Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp Announces Awards for Workplace Safety

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) awarded safety intervention grants to nine Ohio businesses totaling more than $221,000 in September. BWC designed the Safety Intervention Grant Program to assist Ohio employers in reducing illnesses and injuries and to create a partnership with them to establish best practices for accident and injury prevention.

“We are pleased whenever we can form a safety partnership with Ohio employers because a focus on safety now prevents injuries later,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “I applaud these employers’ efforts to provide safer workplaces for their employees.”

Ohio private and public employers are eligible for safety intervention grants, which include a 2-to-1 matching amount up to a maximum of $40,000 for a total of $60,000 — $20,000 from the employer and $40,000 from BWC. Quarterly data reports and follow-up case studies help BWC determine the effectiveness of employers’ safety interventions and establish best practices.

The following are a list of businesses that received grants from BWC in September.

BWC awarded $2,000 to purchase anti-fatigue mats to reduce the risk of strained muscles and stress on joints that can occur when employees stand on concrete floors 8 to 10 hours a day. Dualite is a sign manufacturing plant.

BWC awarded $34,344 to purchase a mobile ergonomic handler to assist employees manually moving glass of various sizes and weights. The equipment will reduce the risk of sprains and strains, and exposure to falls. Glassworks is a full-service glass company specializing in commercial contract glazing, and residential and commercial repair and replacement.

BWC awarded $40,000 to fabricate a low profile turntable to reduce the risk of back injuries and sprains and strains that can occur when manually shoveling dust particles. Transmet Corporation specializes in the manufacturing of nonferrous particles in a “sintering like” operation.

BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase vertical pumps (including plumbing & installation) to reduce the risk of injuries associated with performing maintenance operations, including slips, trips, falls, electrical hazards, chemical exposure, respiratory illness and sprains and strains. Canfield Metal Coating is a processor of light gauge carbon steel in coil form.

BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase 15 height safety systems for their tanker trucks to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls when loading and unloading tanker trucks. Environmental Specialists provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal services to automotive and industrial generators.

BWC awarded $4,179 to purchase a 4,000 pound winch with reversing motor to reduce the risk of contusions and sprains and strains that can result from manually opening and closing a 4,000 pound door. American Welding & Tank is a manufacturer of steel pressure vessels and also refurbishes propane tanks.

BWC awarded $5,330 to purchase a mechanical hose roller to reduce the risk of sprains, strains and fatigue that can result from manual material handling, i.e. lifting, pulling, hoisting, and rolling of water hoses. This public employer is an incorporated volunteer fire department and 501c3 organization.

BWC awarded $27,825 to purchase a hydraulic post driver with a power down auger attachment and a wire un-roller. The equipment will reduce the risk of back and shoulder injuries, fatigue, and hand injuries that can result when manually digging postholes and handling and running fence wire. Circle L Fence is a fencing installation contractor.

BWC awarded $27,534 to purchase a scrap removal system to reduce the risk of slips, trips, falls, sprains, strains, contusions and lacerations that can occur when manually adjusting die risers during the set-up process. ArtiFlex is a parts manufacturer for the automotive industry.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation