This year’s course offerings cover everything from workplace safety and claims management to rate making and the latest updates from BWC and the Industrial Commission of Ohio.

Whether this is your first visit to WCU or your fifth time taking classes, the WCU 2008 curriculum has something for you. Below is an alphabetized listing of courses. To view a course description, just click on the title.

Alphabetized listing of WCU 2008 courses

ABCs of the claims process - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Basic principles of workers’ compensation - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Building a safety program on a budget - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Business acquisitions: Workers’ comp considerations - Step 6/One Claim Program course

BWC update - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Claims management: Advanced strategies - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Financial impacts of a claim - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Health and safety for an aging work force - Step 6/One Claim Program course

IC academics - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Navigating ohiobwc.com

ohiobwc.com: A hands-on tutorial

Rate-making concepts - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Workers’ compensation for public employers - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Workers’ comp law - Step 6/One Claim Program course

Workplace safety update - Step 6/One Claim Program course

ABCs of the claims process (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
What should you do when you have a workers’ compensation claim? A BWC claims expert will walk you through the claims process, covering everything from initial reporting to resolution. The session also will address the importance of developing partnerships with BWC and other stakeholders, the use of accident analysis as a prevention tool and much more.

Basic principles of workers’ compensation (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
What’s the difference between an employee and an independent contractor? What is reportable payroll? When are my premiums due? This introductory course will answer these questions and provide basic fundamentals for new business owners or anyone who wants a high-level overview of Ohio’s workers’ compensation system.

Building a safety program on a budget (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
A tough economy means getting the most out of a shrinking budget. But that doesn’t mean workplace safety needs to suffer. This course, taught by BWC safety consultants, will explain how routine safety audits and creating a meaningful safety culture can reduce costs in your workplace. They’ll also provide a brief overview of free BWC safety services.

Business acquisitions: Workers’ comp considerations (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
There is plenty to think about when it comes to acquiring an existing business. Workers’ compensation details probably don’t immediately come to mind, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. Our business consultants will cover how workers’ compensation impacts business acquisitions and the process for securing coverage for the newly acquired business.

BWC update (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
We, as an agency, have been working with stakeholders on initiatives that will bring fundamental changes to Ohio’s workers’ compensation system. This session will help bring you up to date on the ongoing transformation of group rating, the switch to a new claims reserving system, possible changes to our experience rating plan and more.

Claims management: Advanced strategies (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
Effectively managing a claim is critical to reducing the financial impacts on your workers’ compensation premiums. This course outlines how you can use strategies such as salary continuation, vocational rehabilitation and transitional work to help manage your claims, and return your employees back to work in a timely and safe manner.

Financial impacts of a claim (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
One of your workers is hurt and files a claim? So, how will it affect your premiums? This session illustrates the impact claims have on employer premiums via basic rate-making concepts and terminology. Instructors also will discuss strategies and introduce BWC programs that can lessen the adverse effects on premiums when an injured worker files a claim.

Health and safety for an aging work force (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2012 more than 31 million U.S. workers will be 55 years of age or older. Older workers bring experience to the job, but they also present unique challenges when it comes to workplace safety. BWC safety experts will provide tips and workplace design improvements to address the needs and issues of the aging work force.

IC academics (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
Representatives from the Industrial Commission of Ohio (IC) will provide an overview of the purpose of the IC and how it works. IC representatives will explain recent technological innovations, and attendees will get the latest updates on IC rules and policies.

Navigating ohiobwc.com
This lecture course for new users of our Web site will provide step-by-step instructions for creating an e-account to access personal, secure information pertaining to your workers’ compensation policy. Instructors also will demonstrate how to use some of the site’s convenient service offerings.

ohiobwc.com: A hands-on tutorial
Offered four times at each WCU location, this hands-on lab course is intended for more established users of our Web site. Instructors will guide participants with an existing e-account and password on a detailed tour of the site and its functions, including new and improved MIRA II offerings. Note: New users or anyone interested in setting up an ohiobwc.com e-account should attend the Navigating ohiobwc.com lecture course.

Rate-making concepts (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
Experience modification, total modified losses and base rating may sound like a foreign language. But this class will help you speak the language of rate-making fluently. Instructors will introduce and define more advanced rate-making concepts and terminology. They will also walk attendees through our rate letter to explain factors used to determine rates.

Workers’ compensation for public employers (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
Designed with the unique needs of public employers in mind, this course highlights factors that impact workers’ compensation for public employers. The impacts of using a volunteer work force, payroll reporting issues and unique cost-cutting strategies public employers can use are just a few of the informative topics instructors will cover.

Workers’ comp law (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
This session will provide an overview of Ohio workers' compensation laws and their impact on claims. The instructor will discuss important recent decisions from the Ohio Supreme Court and their affect on workers’ compensation. The session also will provide a better understanding of the interaction of state and federal employment laws. Attendees will learn how this interaction affects the workers’ compensation system.

Workplace safety update (Step 6/One Claim Program course)
Ohio Administrative Code and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations both provide workplace safety guidance and governance to Ohio employers. This course will highlight the process that is under way to bring the two into alignment. The instructors will explain violations of specific safety requirements and the impact they can have on employers.