Safety and Workers' Compensation Management

Show Off Your Safety Innovation

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 BWC is accepting applications until Sept. 30, 2018. Finalists will receive cash awards, ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 and statewide recognition at the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo in Columbus March 6 to 8, 2019.

Last year’s finalists included innovations such as a remote-controlled vacuuming system for cleaning clarifier tanks and an articulating arm that assists workers when doing weld tear-downs on truck cabs.

Learn more here. 8/1/2018

BWC True Up Deadline is August 15

We can’t say it often enough! Failure to true-up on time causes financial risk and, most likely, headaches.

The true-up report must be completed even if an employer had zero payroll, or their payroll for the year matches the estimate BWC provided.

BWC will remove employers from their current rating and discount programs if it does not receive a payroll true-up and any additional premium owed by the deadline.

Online true-up and payment also qualifies eligible employers for a 1-percent premium rebate, up to a $2,000 maximum. 7/26/2018

OSHA to Propose Rule to Better Protect Personally Identifiable Information

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to better protect personally identifiable information or data that could be re-identified with a particular individual by removing provisions of the “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” rule.

We’ll keep you posted as to any change in compliance obligations. 7/26/2018

BWC True-up Deadline is August 15

An important reminder to private employers: Don’t forget to “true-up” by Aug. 15.

“True-up” means to report your actual payroll for the policy year that just ended on June 30 and reconcile any difference in premium paid.

This important action allows BWC to calculate your premium accurately. Even if your payroll for the year matches the estimate it provided, or you had zero payroll, you must complete a true-up report. It’s also critical to maintaining your policy and your participation in your current rating plan or discount programs.

BWC will remove employers from their current rating plan or discount program if it does not receive a payroll true-up and any additional premium owed by the due date.

The quickest and easiest way to true-up is online with a BWC e-account. Online true-up and payment also qualifies eligible employers for a 1% premium rebate, up to a $2,000 maximum.

Learn more here and here. 7/16/2018

Look for Your BWC ‘Billion Back’ Check

BWC is asking you to keep a close watch on your mailbox in July. It is sending checks related to the $1.5 billion rebate announced in the spring.

Your check should arrive by early August in a white envelope labeled “important documents enclosed.” BWC advises to cash the checks quickly because they expire in 90 days.

Employers that participate in the Group-Retrospective Rating Program will receive checks in the fall. 7/16/2018

BWC’s Next Employer Webinar is July 26

The next employer update webinar is scheduled for July 26 at 11:30 a.m.

The July webinar will cover policy year 2018 renewal, the new Policy Activity Rebate Program, the updated BWC website, its monthly safety tip and more.

Register here to attend the webinar virtually or here to visit your local claims office and view the webinar with BWC staff. 7/16/2018

BWC is Collecting Feedback

BWC is currently conducting an evaluation of managed care for the State of Ohio using an outside vendor. The purpose of this evaluation is to identify strengths and weaknesses of the current system for providing care for injured workers.

BWC’s vendor, DXC Technology, or its affiliated company, HPE, may contact you soon through email to invite your participation in a survey about your experiences with the workers’ compensation system.

If you are contacted, know that your participation in the survey is highly valued by BWC. 7/16/2018

Free Drug Disposal Kits for Your Workforce

OMA member, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), is supporting various programs in Ohio that address addiction recovery.

Part of its outreach involves providing resources for safe drug disposal, that people can use at home. Cleaning out unused or unwanted medications is a good way to help keep drugs from being abused or misused.

If your organization would like to provide disposal bags and information to workers, you can obtain them at no charge. The disposal bags come in boxes of 200. The disposal kit activates once medicines (liquids and pills) are removed from their containers and placed in a pouch with water. The medicines become unpalatable and some cases, neutralized, and the bag is then safe to place in the trash.

To obtain a supply, email Jenny Camper. Jenny will ask you to sign a memorandum of understanding indicating that the bags will be given away, not sold, and she will need a name, shipping address and phone number.

Here’s a good drug disposal handout, as well. 7/12/2018

Did You Remember to File OSHA Form 300A?

The deadline for electronically submitting 2017 Form 300A data to OSHA was July 1, 2018. OSHA requires that businesses with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records and businesses with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries – including manufacturing – submit this data.

For more information click here. 7/4/2018

OSHA Postpones Enforcement of Certain Provisions of Beryllium Standard to August 9

From OSHA: “OSHA is postponing enforcement of certain requirements of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general industry. Requirements originally scheduled for enforcement on June 25 will not be enforced until Aug. 9. The requirements include beryllium work areas, regulated work areas, methods of compliance, personal protective clothing and equipment, hygiene areas and practices, housekeeping, communication of hazards, and recordkeeping.”

For more information, read the OSHA memorandum. 7/4/2018