Safety and Workers' Compensation Management

Preparing for the Unexpected

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) wants Ohio employers to know about a new tool that connects you to safety and security resources that will help you protect your staff, customers and communities in emergency situations.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s My Safer Ohio Business Clearinghouse is a web platform that connects businesses, law enforcement and public safety organizations. The site offers easy access to a variety of tools that will aid in the development of emergency training and plans. You’ll also find links to public safety organizations like Ohio Homeland Security and the Emergency Management Agency that can help you strengthen your emergency preparedness.

Browse the My Safer Ohio Business Clearinghouse. 8/17/2017

BWC Webinar to Cover Employer Billing

BWC’s series of employer webinars continues Thursday, Aug. 24. The 11:30 a.m. webinar will cover employer billing. RSVP here.

The June and July Webinars are also available online:

• July 2017 | Webinar slides (Topics: A Third Billion Back, payroll true-up, future dating)
• June 2017 | Webinar slides (Topics: EAP, e-accounts, early payment discount, future dating) 8/17/2017

BWC Has New Medical Director

From a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation press release this week: “The former chief medical advisor for the Ohio Industrial Commission will join the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) as its chief medical officer (this week).

“Terrence B. Welsh, MD, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, brings extensive experience with the workers’ compensation system to his role, where he will oversee all medical components of the agency and direct medical policy.

“Dr. Welsh served from 2007 to 2014 as medical advisor to the Industrial Commission, which hears appeals of BWC and self-insured employer decisions. He is also a past member of BWC’s Health Care Quality Assurance Advisory Committee. He most recently served as chief of medical affairs for Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster.”

Dr. Welsh is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. 8/15/2017

Raid of BWC or IC for State Budget Halted

After a series of negotiations with the Kasich administration, the OMA with other business groups have agreed to terms in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will prevent the transfer of any funds from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) or Industrial Commission (IC) to the General Revenue Fund (GRF) to help balance the state budget.

The transfer provision was included in the state budget bill and allowed the administration to reach into both the BWC and IC in order to shore up state tax revenue shortages.

The OMA and other major business groups opposed the provision in the budget stating that it improperly transfers employer dollars set aside for the workers’ compensation system, sets a bad precedent and creates constitutionality questions which could leave the state vulnerable to legal action.

The MOU is expected to be executed soon. 8/10/2017

It’s All on the OMA WCS Dashboard

OMA members who buy or have applied for OMA Workers’ Compensation Services: Your 2018/19 offer will be posted to your WCS Dashboard at My OMA today.

We won’t snail-mail offers this year; once posted to your WCS Dashboard, your offer will be available to you 100% of the time.

You don’t need to buy OMA Workers’ Compensation Services to experience the dashboard. Just submit a “BWC AC3” form (temporary authorization), and once we process it, we’ll populate your dashboard so you can see if the data, tools and resources will benefit you. We’ll also prepare a workers’ comp proposal with our best recommendations for you to consider.

Here is an overview of the WCS Dashboard so you can see what we built for manufacturers and why we built it. 8/7/2017

5 Tips for Complying with BWC’s DFSP

OMA Connections Partner, Working Partners®, offers these five tips for meeting the requirements of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Drug-free Safety Program (DFSP).

If you have questions or need help with the DFSP or any drug-free workplace issue, contact Working Partners® at (614) 337-8200. 8/9/2017

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is developing an educational campaign to generate awareness of safety behaviors that apply both at home and at work, specifically related to the areas of slip, trips, falls, overexertion and driving.

The agency wants to educate all Ohioans about avoiding these types of injuries, and ultimately change behaviors to create a culture of safety that follows Ohioans from work to home and from home to work.

Here’s a new Safe at Work • Safe at Home handout from BWC to share. 8/2/2017

BWC Seeks Small Employers for Health & Wellness Program Input

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is looking for representatives of small manufacturers (50 or fewer employees) willing to provide input as BWC develops its new small employer health and wellness program.

Earlier this year, the BWC announced that it is providing $6 million, as part of its Third Billion Back, for this new small employer program in specific high risk industries.

BWC is looking for manufacturers willing to speak about their operations and what programs might be implemented. BWC representatives will drive to manufacturers’ locations. Interested in helping? Contact BWC’s John Annarino. 8/3/2017

How BWC Calculates Employer Premium (video)

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) created a new video that explains how employers’ workers’ comp insurance premiums are calculated.

OMA members who buy OMA Workers’ Compensation Services can access more tools that help them understand and control their rates and premium. Log into My OMA and access your WCS Dashboard. 8/3/2017

BWC Seeking Safety Innovation Award Applications

Has your organization developed a new piece of equipment, tool or process to reduce risk to your workforce? Have you made changes to an existing method to improve safety and health in your workplace? If so, you could earn a cash prize for your ingenuity by applying for a BWC Safety Innovation Award.

The application period for 2018 Safety Innovation Awards is now open. The BWC doesn’t evaluate the innovation based on whether it’s low-tech or high-tech. It’s seeking solutions that reduce risk, create cost savings, and that have potential application to other workplaces, industries or operations.

If you are an Ohio employer – or know one – that has taken an innovative step to reduce risk of injury or illness, check out the award criteria and application. Five finalists will receive cash awards, ranging from $1,000 to $6,000.

The entry deadline is September 30, 2017. 7/31/2017