BWC a force for growth, workplace safety, opioid solutions in 2019

By Stephanie McCloud, Administrator/CEO, The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Some might view the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation as a purely reactive agency — we compensate injured workers and help them get back to work, health, and life after a workplace injury. 

But as I reach my 1-year anniversary this month as BWC’s administrator and CEO, I’m struck at just how proactive we were in 2019, all to the benefit of working Ohioans, employers, and our economy.

Taking direction from Gov. Mike DeWine, our actions fostered business and job growth, created safer workplaces, and continued to battle the opioid and substance use epidemic devastating our state and nation.

I traveled across our state last year meeting business owners, local leaders, and other Ohioans both delighted and grateful for our efforts to keep workers’ compensation costs low and safety awareness high. Indeed, our list of accomplishments is impressive, and I never tire of talking about them!

Read more on our blog.

Important Safety Grant news

Due to the popularity of our Safety Grants program, we have established a March 31, 2020, deadline for employers to submit applications for fiscal year 2020 funds.

Applications for fiscal year 2020 via U.S. mail must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2020. The on-line application service will close after March 31 and not re-open until July 1, the first day of fiscal year 2021. 

The March 31 deadline applies to the following grants:

•    Safety Intervention 

•    Employers Working with Persons with Developmental Disabilities

•    Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant

•    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 programs on our website. 

McCloud touts safety, $1.5 billion dividend in Youngstown visit

BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud wrapped up her 2019 statewide tour last month with a Dec. 18 visit to a Youngstown employer that pledged its $221,000 dividend check to safety efforts and other business improvements.

“This check was a nice surprise, and we look forward to using it to grow our business and keep our employees safe,” said General Extrusions owner Herb Schuler Jr., whose company employs more than 100.

Founded in 1950, General Extrusions manufactures aluminum parts for automotive, appliance and several other industries.

Its dividend check was one of 164,000 BWC sent to Ohio employers last fall following strong investment returns, declining claims, and other agency cost savings. The dividends totaled nearly $1.5 billion.

McCloud’s visit followed Gov. Mike DeWine’s regional cabinet meeting that morning in the Mahoning Valley.

News briefs

2020 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo registration now open

New this year is an online attendance option. Click here to see a complete list of courses and to register.

New! Contact info for MCOs and authorized reps on My policy page

When employers sign in to our website, their own personal dashboard, My policy page, displays. Based on your feedback, we've added contact information for both your managed care organization and authorized reps to that page.  

Safety news

New safety campaign for trenching.

Visit TrenchSafetyOhio.com to learn more. 

January edition of Safety Update

Click here to get the latest news from NIOSH and OSHA. Also, find out how to register for the Ohio Safety Congress & Espo and our upcoming webinar on Better You, Better Ohio!™ 

Fleet safety toolkit

For our small- to mid-size employers with vehicle fleets, we've created a fleet safety toolkit just for you. We hope it will help you develop and maintain a fleet safety program for your employees

From the Governor's office

Ohio First Lady Launches Ohio Governor's Imagination Library Program in Cuyahoga County

Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine announced the opening of the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library on Jan. 13 in Cuyahoga County. 

Any child from birth to age five can enroll to receive a free, new book from the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library every month.

Important dates

Jan. 30 - Monthly employer webinar

Click here to register.

Jan. 31 - Program application deadline for private employers. Click here to see which programs. 

Jan. 31 - BWC Board of Directors meeting

 Feb. 1 - 300 AP due (public employers)

Feb. 28  - Deadline for public employer taxing districts to true-up

Check out our blogs!

Make 2020 healthier and happier with Better You, Better Ohio!™ 

A look back at our most popular posts of 2019