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State Construction Contractors
Ohio law says all companies that bid or work on state construction jobs must have drug-free workplace
programs — no matter how few or how many employees they have. This applies to contractors and all levels of
subcontractors who want to work a State of Ohio construction project or who want to bid on and eventually
provide labor services and/or supervise workers on state construction sites.
Click here for more information on
state construction contractors
Is your company currently in approved status in the state construction contractor/subcontractor database?
Click on the following link, then enter your Ohio workers’ compensation policy number and click search to find
out.
State construction contractor look-up
Have you seen this employer?
- Ohio company with 25 or fewer employees
- Business owner who wants to improve the safety and health of his or her employees
- Organization that is looking for ways to lower workers’ comp costs
If you fit this description, then BWC's DF-EZ program may just fit you!
Based on input from the employer community, we have designed a special program that focuses
on the special needs of small employers, with premium discounts of 10, 15 and 20 percent
based on level of participation. Small employers who choose to participate in DF-EZ will also
be eligible for a bonus for meeting specified claims frequency and claims severity objectives,
and safety grants of up to $10,000 for private employers and $15,000 for public employers
that can be used to help meet any drug-free program requirements.
This new program is simpler, has less paperwork and is easier to implement. That’s why we refer to the program as
Drug-Free EZ (DF-EZ): Small Business Solutions. DF-EZ has the same basic components as the Drug-Free Workplace Program but
is easier to put into place. With DF-EZ, we have not compromised any employee protections or employer rights. We also made
every effort to streamline requirements, simplify the program and reduce paperwork.
Why participate in DF-EZ?
The problem?
The courts and the public are holding American employers responsible for the behavior of
their substance-using employees. Not only do alcohol and other drugs affect
profitability of companies, they also affect the health, safety and productivity
of workers.
Consider these statistics.
- Productivity — Substance users are 33 percent to 50 percent less productive.
- Absenteeism — Users are absent an average of three weeks or more per year and are
tardy three times more often than non-users.
- Accidents — Users are three to four times more likely to have an accident on the
job and five times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim.
- Medical claims — Substance users file 300 percent to 400 percent more costly
medical claims.
- Employee theft — An estimated 50 percent to 80 percent of all pilferage, theft and
loss is due to substance-using employees.
What is the DF-EZ program?
BWC's DF-EZ is an incentive program designed to help small employers establish safer and more cost-effective
workplaces. You can join hundreds of other Ohio employers by choosing to keep your employees safe and reduce
the chance of an accident caused by substance use. The voluntary program encourages employers to detect and
deter substance use and misuse, and take appropriate corrective action.
Note: While participation in DF-EZ for most employers is voluntary, construction contractors and all
levels of subcontractors including sole proprietor/one-person “shops” are required to have a drug-free workplace
program (a BWC program or a comparable program approved by BWC) in order to bid on or work public
improvement/state construction contracts/projects.
BWC understands that small businesses typically have fewer resources available to implement a drug-free
workplace program. That's why we created DF-EZ. Small businesses can participate in this program that has the
same basic elements and integrity as the DFWP but with streamlined requirements and less paperwork.
Click here for more information on BWC's DFWP
Why else should a small employer consider participating?
Substance use is often the silent and unseen cause of work-related accidents. Unfortunately, employers and their
employees don't realize it until it's too late. Statistics from national studies show how costly substance use
is within the workplace, and Ohio is no different. Estimates of the cost of substance use to employers vary,
ranging from $7,000 to $25,000 annually per substance user. Small employers are at special risk because larger
employers more frequently have a drug-free program in place. This means that workers with substance problems
may gravitate to a small employer that does not have a program in place to avoid being subject to substance
testing.
Overall, the greatest value of DF-EZ is in its long-range benefits rather than a discount. Implementing the program
can truly be a good business decision for a small employer.
Who is eligible to participate in DF-EZ?
For purposes of DF-EZ, we consider a small employer one with an average of 25 or fewer employees. This takes
into account fluctuations in staffing. If you have part-time employees, use the standard formula for calculating
full-time equivalent employees to estimate your average annual work force. If your work force varies from lower
than 25 full-time equivalents to more than 25, you are considered a DFWP employer rather than a DF-EZ employer,
and the DFWP program requirements will apply. In addition:
- Only state-fund employers may receive a discount. This includes private employers and public employer taxing
districts with the exception of state agencies.
- Employers must be in good standing with BWC in terms of policy coverage status, payment of premiums and
other monies due BWC and have limited lapses in coverage.
- Employers must have an active, reinstated or debtor-in-possession coverage status at the time they are
approved to participate in the DF-EZ and throughout continued participation in the program.
- Employers must be current on premium payments as of March 31 for the application year that begins July 1,
or must be current as of Sept. 30 for the application year that begins Jan. 1. BWC defines current as not more
than 45 days past due on any and all undisputed premiums, assessments, penalties or monies otherwise due to
any fund administered by BWC, including amounts due for retrospective rating at the time of application
deadline.
- Employers may not have cumulative lapses in workers’ compensation coverage in excess of 59 days within the
last 18 months preceding application for DFWP.
Employers must not have previously completed their eligible four or five years of participation in a BWC
drug-free workplace program; however, employers that are no longer eligible for a drug-free discount are
permitted to operate a “comparable” drug-free program for no discount but to allow bidding on or working State
of Ohio public improvement/construction contracts.
Program requirements
DF-EZ has five or six program components depending upon the level of participation you choose. Higher levels of participation will require you
to implement three specified steps of BWC’s 10-Step Business Plan.
To get a quick summary of each requirement, click on the appropriate link below.
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