Safety and Workers' Compensation Management

OMA Webinar Addresses Best Practices During COVID-19 and Ohio’s Re-Opening Period

On Wednesday, April 29, the OMA hosted a comprehensive COVID-19 briefing with subject-matter experts who addressed key issues facing manufacturers, including:

• Ohio’s re-opening plan;
• Workplace safety;
• The use of PPE by employees;
• Unemployment insurance provisions; and
• Federal loan programs.

Numerous questions from members were answered, so we hope you are able to listen to this recorded webinar. (The event begins at the 3:20 mark.) 4/30/2020

Guidance for Food & Beverage Manufacturers During COVID-19

Because food and beverage processors face unique safety challenges in protecting workers from COVID-19, OMA Connections Partner Plante Moran has published this guidance. 4/28/2020

OMA Webinar: Infectious Disease Planning for Employers

On Tuesday, May 12, at 10 a.m. (ET), the OMA will host a 60-minute webinar to help employers develop an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan, as recommended by OSHA. Register or learn more here. 4/30/2020

Find PPE for Your Business on the Ohio Makers’ Exchange

Here is a reminder for members searching for face coverings, masks, or other personal protective equipment (PPE). The Ohio Manufacturing Alliance to Fight COVID-19 recently launched the Ohio Emergency PPE Makers’ Exchange, an online marketplace that features PPE offered by Ohio manufacturers and makers. At last check, some of the products listed include:

• assembly line partitions;
• face shields/masks/coverings;
• temperature testing stations;
• distancing signage;
• hand sanitizer;
• shoe coverings; and
• aprons/gowns.

Keep in mind that this is an exchange — more like Craigslist than eBay, so the transaction will be directly between you and the seller. The Alliance has screened vendors to the best of its ability to include only Ohio manufacturers, but it cannot vouch for sellers or products. 4/29/2020

Reserve Cotton Face Masks, Plastic Shields Through OMA

The OMA, along with Northeast Ohio’s MEP MAGNET, has earmarked stockpiles of cotton face masks and plastic face shields for Ohio manufacturers to purchase.

Approximately 200,000 cotton masks and 200,000 face shields will be ready to start to ship in about three weeks at a price of approximately $4 per cotton mask or plastic face shield. Each product will be sold in lots of 25 pieces. Final prices will be determined by demand and will be at cost.

Fill out this form if you’d like us to reserve a quantity for you. No orders will be placed until we contact you with a final price and estimated delivery date. We will make every attempt to fulfill as many orders as possible — and we may limit quantities in order to serve as many manufacturers as possible. Products are manufactured in Ohio. 4/30/2020

Ohio’s Stay-At-Home Order Extended

The DeWine administration has extended Ohio’s stay-at-home order to 11:59 p.m. May 29, 2020. The new order has major exceptions, including for people to shop, exercise outside and go to work. The order allows certain businesses to open, provided they follow recommended workplace safety precautions.

Today, May 1, non-essential medical procedures at hospitals that do not require an overnight stay are allowed to resume, as are dental and veterinary visits. On Monday, May 4, construction, manufacturing and distribution operations can resume, and offices can re-open. On May 12, non-essential retail stores can re-open. Schools, bars and restaurants, appearance and beauty enterprises, child care, entertainment, and gyms must remain closed. 5/1/2020

BWC Waives Two-Hour Safety Training Requirement for 2019 Program Year

Normally, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) requires Group-Experience and Group-Retrospective rating participants that had a claim occurring in the “green period” to complete a two-hour training class by June 30, 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the BWC is waiving this safety requirement for the 2019 program year.

The BWC encourages employers to take advantage of its online training opportunities. And, as a reminder, the OMA will continue to offer its monthly schedule of safety webinars. 4/30/2020

2020 Employer Dividend Impact on 2018 Group-Retrospective Rating Participants

As reported earlier, the BWC is issuing a 100% dividend of premiums employers paid in the 2018 policy year. How will this impact 2018 Group-Retrospective Rating participants? Private employers included in a 2018 Group-Retrospective program will receive as a rebate 100% of their experience-rated premium as of April 4, 2020. No further financial transactions impacting the 2018 policy year will be paid to, or assessed from, those employers’ policies. In other words, the group-retrospective rating cycle will be complete upon payment of the dividend.

For more, see the BWC’s dividend Q&A. 4/30/2020

Safety Guidance for Manufacturers During COVID-19

Recently, OSHA published safety tips for manufacturers to help protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus. The new alert is available in both English and Spanish.

With safe workplaces on everyone’s mind, the OMA has complied this collection of safety-related resources to support Ohio manufacturers, whether they are re-opening their facilities or continuing essential operations. 4/22/2020

Develop an Infectious Disease Plan for Your Business

On Tuesday, May 12, at 10 a.m. (ET), the OMA will host a 60-minute webinar to address OSHA’s recommendation that employers develop an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan in response to the COVID19 pandemic. The webinar will be presented by Safex’s Dianne Grote Adams, a board-certified industrial hygienist with 40 years of experience. Register or learn more. 4/22/2020