Safety and Workers' Compensation Management

Webinar: Workplace Safety During (and After) COVID-19

OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward will host a free webinar at noon (ET) Wednesday, Oct. 7 to address workplace safety during and after the pandemic. This one-hour webinar will provide a review of new Ohio, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements and guidance, while also covering best practices for staying complaint, dealing with difficult employees, and striving to keep employees safe. 10/1/2020

To Fight COVID-19, This Campaign is Focused on Employee Practices Outside the Workplace

As the nation prepares for a potential uptick in COVID-19 cases, the National Association of Manufacturers recently launched the “Creators Respond Commitment” to help employers encourage wider outside-of-work compliance with safety practices. You can access email templates to share this campaign with your employees. 10/1/2020

BWC Board to Vote on $1.5B in Dividends for Employers

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation board is expected to vote today, Sept. 25, to provide Ohio employers up to $1.5 billion in dividends. (To be eligible for the dividend, make sure you have performed your true-up for the 2019 policy year by Friday, Oct. 2.)

The dividend would equal the full premium that employers paid in policy year 2019. If approved, checks could be mailed as soon as late October. 9/25/2020

Ohio Safety Congress Will Be Virtual in 2021

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has announced that the 2021 Ohio Safety Congress and Expo will be online only. Set for March 10-11, the event will feature dozens of learning sessions and a digital expo, allowing participants to chat virtually with vendors about new and existing products and services.

As always, the event will be free for Ohio employers. Registration will open in January. 9/23/2020

Analysis: Safety Incentive Programs Can Backfire

In the wake of a workplace incident, an incentive program sounds like an appealing solution to improve worker safety. Unfortunately, you can’t buy a good safety culture.

OMA Connections Partner Safex has published this insight to help you achieve a culture you want with actions that reinforce your company’s commitment to improvement. 9/21/2020

Airflow Considerations During COVID-19

Public health experts have indicated that airborne transmission of the coronavirus may be possible in certain settings. McKinsey & Company has published this infographic to provide guidance on HVAC and ventilation — based on input from public health agencies and industry groups — in the context of three settings: manufacturing, offices, and retail stores. 9/17/2020

OMA Uses Technology to Find Handicap Reimbursement Opportunities

The OMA Workers’ Compensation Services team will soon present arguments to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) legal department in support of employer applications for reimbursement of claims costs under the BWC Handicap Reimbursement policy.

Handicap reimbursement is a BWC provision designed to allow employers to gain claim-cost relief when certain pre-existing medical conditions among injured workers add recovery time and cost to a claim.

In 2020, OMA account managers reviewed more than 1,000 claim files for handicap reimbursement potential using a new, technology-driven process that monitors claims for potential triggers. This new process allows for more efficient claims management, as well as full transparency to the employer.

If you have questions, please contact your OMA account manager or see the “Company Claims” tab on your WCS Dashboard. To see how OMA Workers’ Compensation Services can lighten your load when it comes to claims management, click here — or contact Crissy Roach. 9/17/2020

Summary of BWC Assistance for Employers During COVID-19

The pandemic has presented unique issues in the workforce and to employers. Fortunately, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has implemented policies and programs over the last several months to reduce employer hardships. OMA Connections Partner Dinsmore has compiled a summary of pandemic-related BWC policies and how they apply to your business. 9/16/2020

Ohio Workers’ Comp Changes Go Into Effect

A new, comprehensive workers’ compensation law went into effect this week. Ohio’s House Bill 81, OMA-supported legislation that was passed and signed earlier this year, contains several significant changes. For details on the new law, read this analysis from OMA Connections Partner Frantz Ward. 9/15/2020

1988 Bengals: Beat COVID-19! Wear a Mask in Public

The 1988 Cincinnati Bengals — AFC Champions, Super Bowl XXIII participants, and one of the most memorable teams in NFL history.

Members of that standout squad have teamed up again in a new public service announcement from the National Association of Manufacturers and the OMA. The video, which can be seen on Twitter and LinkedIn, serves as a timely reminder that beating COVID-19 will require continued teamwork — including wearing a face covering in public. 9/10/2020