Safety and Workers' Compensation Management

Report: Pot More Dangerous Than Feds Admit

Marijuana is more dangerous than the Biden administration admits, according to an editorial by The Wall Street Journal’s Allysia Finley. She cites reports that marijuana today has four to 20 times more potency than in the 1990s, and that more than 11% of 19- to 30-year-olds use it daily.

Meanwhile at the Ohio Statehouse, there has been no movement in the House to take up the Senate-approved Issue 2 modifications, despite calls for action from the OMA and other employer groups.

As noted in this update from OMA Connections Partner Working Partners, Ohio’s new recreational marijuana law allows employers to implement and maintain drug-free workplace policies and practices around the use, possession, and distribution of marijuana.1/25/2024

On-Demand Webinar: OSHA Recordkeeping

OSHA’s expansion of its requirements for annual injury tracking was covered in detail during this month’s OMA safety webinar, titled “300, 301 and 300A, Oh My! OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements.”

Presented by OMA Connections Partner Safex, this webinar is available on demand to OMA members. It’s helpful for new staff members as well as those in need of a refresher. Also, check out the webinar slide show. 1/17/2024

Time to Prepare for Ohio Safety Congress

The 2024 Ohio Safety Congress and Expo — the largest work-safety conference in the U.S. — is just two months away. This popular event will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on March 27-29, and will feature expert content within 13 educational tracks. View the schedule and make plans to attend. 1/18/2024

OSHA Increases Maximum Penalties

OSHA has announced its annual inflation-based increases to the maximum civil penalties that the agency can assess via citations against employers.

Maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $15,625 per violation to $16,131 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $156,259 per violation to $161,323 per violation. The higher penalties take effect Tuesday, Jan. 16. 1/11/2024

Last Call: Sign OMA’s Letter Opposing OSHA Walkaround Rule

As the OMA has previously reported, OSHA’s proposed walkaround rule would pose significant risks to manufacturers. This is your last opportunity to sign your company’s name on the OMA’s letter urging Ohio’s federal delegation to help stop the rule from being implemented. More than 120 companies have already signed the letter. Click here to co-sign. 1/11/2024

Deadline for OMA Group Retro Program Is Jan. 19

Manufacturers interested in renewing or joining the OMA Group Retro Rating program for the upcoming 2024/2025 policy year must send enrollment forms to the OMA no later than Friday, Jan. 19.

Members can find their offer on their company’s OMA Workers’ Compensation Services dashboard, or by contacting their account manager. 1/11/2024

Strategies to Protect Against Workplace Violence

A recent survey finds that nearly 25% of respondents say they have witnessed workplace violence during the last five years. EHS Today has published this story highlighting key steps employers can take to reduce the likelihood of violence in the workplace. 1/11/2024

Issue 2 Changes Await House Action

Columbus Business First has published this story illustrating how legalized recreational marijuana — approved by Ohio voters last November — is opening a “Pandora’s box” for employers on the safety front. For guidance on drug testing, check out resources from OMA Connections Partner Working Partners.

Thanks in part to efforts by the OMA during the enactment of medical marijuana statutes several years ago, employers have protections under Issue 2, as outlined in this Nov. 24, 2023 memo by Bricker Graydon, the OMA’s general counsel. Employers are not required to permit marijuana use, possession, or distribution on the job, and can continue their drug-free workplace programs.

As previously reported, the Ohio Senate’s Issue 2 modifications were delayed last month by the Ohio House, which has indicated it will soon take up its own package of changes. The OMA and other employer groups have called for improvements to Issue 2 language impacting safety, employer protections, and private property rights. 1/3/2024

Webinar: Training the Next Generation

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will host a Jan. 23 webinar focusing on training the next generation of employees. This no-cost learning event will examine the traits of different generations in the labor force and their learning needs, including strategies to better train millennial and Gen Z employees. Register here. 1/2/2024

BWC’s Employer Update, January 9

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will host its initial monthly employer update webinar of 2024. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., this 30-minute virtual event will examine BWC website updates, experience modifiers and how they are calculated, transitional work, important BWC dates, and the bureau’s monthly safety tip. Register here. 1/4/2024