Media Advisory: July 30, 2008

$4 Million Available for Safety Equipment and Drug-Free Workplaces

Half of safety equipment funds to help employers in high risk/high injury fields

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will award Ohio employers $4 million in grants throughout Fiscal Year 2009. BWC will provide $3 million to assist employers in purchasing safety equipment, with $1 million available to help employers develop and support drug-free workplace programs. BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene administers the funds, which are available to Ohio’s state-fund employers.

“Protecting the health and well-being of Ohio’s work force is a cornerstone of BWC’s mission,” said BWC Administrator Marsha Ryan. “The Safety and Drug-Free Workplace grants are tools that enable employers to purchase equipment or implement safety techniques designed to keep workers healthy and safe, while decreasing the risk of injury.”

BWC will distribute $1.5 million of the safety equipment funding to construction industry and public employers. BWC identified these two industries as preferred customer markets (PCMs) to help employers increase safety processes and reduce incidences of workplace injuries. The nursing home and the temporary agency industries are also identified as PCMs, though they are not eligible for these funds.

The Division of Safety & Hygiene is focusing its expertise and resources on these high-injury/high-risk industries. Through the assistance of the grant program, PCMs are expected to reduce or eliminate injuries and/or illnesses.

In Fiscal Year 2008, BWC awarded 96 employers $2.7 million in safety equipment grants, and approved more than $1 million in drug-free workplace funding for 1,103 employers.

Preliminary results of an analysis of 30 construction industry employers participating in the grant program showed an 82-percent reduction in lost days. These employers also recorded a 32-percent improvement in their incident rates. By incorporating ergonomic design into their workplaces, 35 public employer grant recipients reduced their lost-day rate by 19 percent after 200 days. The results of these studies and information about BWC safety grants are available here.

For more information about BWC and its customer-focused reform efforts, visit ohiobwc.com/reform.

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Contact: Maria Smith
614-728-8045 or 614-205-5709
Maria.Smith@bwc.state.oh.us