Promoting Workplace Safety Awareness
and the Reduction of Occupational Injuries and Disease
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Fall Protection Competent Person Training
As required by OSHA 1926.32(f), 1926.500 and 1910 standards
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cleveland Division of Water
1201 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland OH
The Northern Ohio ASSP Chapter is sponsoring a one-day Fall Protection Competent Person training class on Wednesday, August 26th in Cleveland. ASSP will award .6 CEUs for those who complete the class. The Ohio BWC has approved this event for one Safety Council Rebate Program external training credit. The price is right for this excellent training. Register early to assure your seat.
BWC Premium installment payments due for March, April and May for the current policy year deferred until June 1
Q. Will BWC allow employers to delay installment payments due to COVID-19's hardship?
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) is announcing that insurance premium installment payments due for March, April and May for the current policy year may be deferred until June 1, 2020, at which time the matter will be reconsidered. This is for public and private employers. BWC will not lapse (cancel) coverage or assess penalties for amounts not paid because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Installment payments due for the three-month period total approximately $200 million.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions
To minimize the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and continue business operations, our BWC staff is now teleworking. While we may be operating from a different physical location, we do not currently anticipate major issues with continuing to provide our employers, injured workers, and the many others we serve, with service. Phone numbers and email addresses for our customer service representatives remain the same.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary. We know you may have questions that we are just not able to immediately answer. We promise to keep you updated and share information as we have it. In the meantime, thank you for your patience as we all work through COVID-19 together.
For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19) visit coronavirus.ohio.gov. For questions about COVID-19's effect on BWC, you can email BWCCOVID19@bwc.state.oh.us.
The question/answer are listed on our Frequently Asked Question page.
Workers' Memorial Day - A Tribute To Workers In Northeast Ohio
Saturday, May 2 at Progressive Field
This event will be delayed or rescheduled when MLB determines their schedule due to Coronavirus.
Workers' Memorial Day is observed every year on April 28. It is a day to pay tribute to those workers who have died on the job and to acknowledge the suffering experienced by their families and communities. The day also marks a rededication to the fight for safety and healthful workplaces for all workers.
Please join us on May 2, 2020 for a day of remembrance and celebration with a 3 p.m. ceremony at Gateway Plaza, located at 2301 Ontario Street in Cleveland between Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage Field House. Discounted Cleveland Indians tickets are available to purchase.
Co-sponsored by OSHA, Construction Employers Association, Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council, and Marathon.
For more information, contact Kayla Flowers, Industrial Hygienist, Cleveland OSHA at 216-447-4169.
Download a flyer about this game with pricing, deadlines, etc. (PDF Format)
Deadline for Safety Grant Applications Approaches
Ohio employers seeking grants from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation to invest in safety measures have until March 31 to apply for funds in this year's fiscal budget. Employers who miss that deadline must wait until July 1, the first day to apply for fiscal 2021 funding under BWC's popular Safety Grants program. "We appreciate Ohio employers who take safety seriously and seek our assistance funding equipment aimed at reducing or eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses," said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud.
Applications for fiscal 2020 funds via U.S. mail must be postmarked no later than March 31. The online application service will close after March 31 and not re-open until July 1, the first day of fiscal year 2021. BWC offers $20 million a year in safety grants. As of Jan. 3, BWC's Division of Safety & Hygiene had approved 616 grant requests. Another 304 were pending.
The March 31 deadline applies to the following grants:
- Safety Intervention
- Employers Working with Persons with Developmental Disabilities
- Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements
- School Safety and Security
- Workplace Wellness
Safety Grants are available to all Ohio state-fund, private and public taxing district employers to purchase equipment to eliminate or reduce workplace hazards. You can find more information on our Safety Grants program on our website.
Medical Marijuana and It's Impact on BWC
What does Ohio's medical marijuana law say? What is the impact of the new law on BWC? What can employers do? This pdf information sheet covers the BWC stance on medical marijuana and the workplace. It covers the general information and application of the new law. It also addresses how the law is applied to the workplace including what the BWC will and will not cover. A good read for a major change to the workplace.
Move Up To Better Health
Introducing a free health and wellness program for Ohio's small businesses
Promoting better health for employees is a key to success for any business. And Better You, Better Ohio! is helping to make it happen. The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has launched a free new health program along with ActiveHealth® Management. Employees will have access to these helpful resources: Quick and easy health assessment, Biometric screening, Digital lifestyle and condition coaching, and Mobile app.
Ready to make your small business even healthier? To learn more about this free program download the listed flyer.
Download this flyer for complete registration details. (PDF Format)
Slips, Trips and Falls For General Industry - Zurich 10-Point Program
How safe are your floors? How about your stairs? Have people fallen recently? You are not alone if you have had slips and falls.
Many factors contribute to slip, trip and fall incidents. The Zurich guide is designed to help you and your management teams become self-sufficient in better controlling these exposures. This workbook provides a logical process to identify areas at your location that have the greatest potential for slip, trip and fall occurrences. Then, it will show the user how to prioritize hazards and develop action plans to help control slip, trip and fall losses in those areas.
Prospective Billing & Safety Seminar For Private Employers
BWC is switching to the industry standard of prospective billing for employer premiums. Have you wondered what it means for your business? Private employers: Come to a FREE seminar near you to get answers and details about prospective billing.
Download this flyer for complete details including times and locations. (PDF Format)
