Safety and Workers' Compensation Management

Analysis: Supreme Court Ruling on Loss-of-Use Benefits Could Significantly Impact Ohio Employers

In late December, the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld the Ohio Industrial Commission’s decision to grant 850 weeks of loss-of-use benefits to the dependents of a deceased worker.

Bricker & Eckler, the OMA’s general counsel, has authored this analysis of the decision. The firm notes that employers should monitor Ohio Statehouse activity to see if lawmakers adopt proposed changes that would eliminate the lump-sum payments of scheduled loss-of-use awards. 1/19/2023

OSHA Recordkeeping Tips and Online Training

With OSHA recordkeeping deadlines around the corner, OMA Connections Partner Safex has published these recordkeeping tips to keep you informed and compliant.

Employers must post their 2022 Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300A) from Feb. 1 through April 30. Calendar year 2022 Form 300A data must be submitted to OSHA by March 2.

On Feb. 2, Ohio BWC will offer OSHA recordkeeping training via a half-day virtual workshop. See more details or register. 1/18/2023

On-Demand Webinar: Top OSHA Violations

The OMA’s January safety webinar updated members on OSHA’s top 2022 violations that affected manufacturers. OMA members can watch the recorded webinar (and view the handouts) for guidance when planning safety improvements.

On Feb. 2, the OMA will present a webinar on how to prepare for an OSHA inspection. Register here. 1/17/2023

Proposed OSHA Rule Would Result in Changes to Inspection Procedures

OSHA recently proposed a rule that would revisit and revitalize the Obama administration’s Fairfax Memo. This recent proposal would likely result in more union-friendly changes to current OSHA inspection procedures. Read this insight from OMA Connections Partner Roetzel. 1/19/2023

OSHA Increases Maximum Penalties

OSHA has announced its annual increases to the maximum civil penalties that the agency may assess via citations against employers.

OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $14,502 per violation to $15,625 per violation. The top penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $145,027 per violation to $156,259 per violation. The higher penalties become effective Tuesday, Jan. 17. 1/12/2023

OSHA Issues Reminder on Form 300A Deadline

OSHA reminds employers that it is collecting Form 300A data for calendar year 2022. Manufacturers (with 20 or more employees) must submit the form electronically by March 2. For more, see OSHA’s news release. 1/12/2023

Should Employee Health Programs Use BMI?

The CDC estimates that obesity-related absenteeism costs businesses between $3.4 billion ($79 per obese employee) to $6.4 billion ($132 per obese individual) a year.

EHS Today has examined the pros and cons of employee health programs using body mass index (BMI) as a health indicator — noting that employees shouldn’t be beholden to their BMI number, but should stay at a healthy weight. 1/11/2023

At a Glance: OMA’s 2023 Safety Webinars

Each month, the OMA offers a one-hour safety webinar examining topics that have been prioritized by members. OMA Connections Partner Safex provides subject-matter expertise. Click here for the 2023 calendar of webinars.

Each webinar costs $29 for OMA members, but there’s no charge for members that purchase their workers’ compensation services from the OMA. (This one-pager highlights the advantages of the OMA’s workers’ comp offerings.)

For employers participating in a group plan, and that sustained a claim in the “green period,” the BWC requires completion of two hours of safety training or the agency’s online accident analysis form and course. Each OMA safety webinar qualifies for one hour of BWC-mandated training. Register here for one or more OMA safety webinars. 1/3/2023

Registration Open for BWC’s Safety Congress

Registration is now open for the 2023 Ohio Safety Congress and Expo, set for March 8-10 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The OMA will once again be participating in this event — the largest work-safety conference in the U.S.

The Expo Marketplace will host nearly 200 exhibiting companies. Attendees can participate in live demonstrations and experience workshops in the new Knowledge Hub. Attendance is free for Ohio employers and their employees. Registration and course listing are available here. 1/5/2023