For immediate release: May 3, 2012

BWC awards more than $350,000 to support workplace safety

16 entities awarded funds to improve safety in the workplace

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) has awarded safety intervention grants to 16 Ohio employers totaling more than $350,000. 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.

"These grants can be very helpful to employers that want to create safer workplaces for their employees but are discouraged by the expense," said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. "They also help to establish best practices by allowing BWC to measure the effectiveness of each employer's safety interventions and advise other employers on how to contend with similar safety concerns."

Ohio private and public employers are eligible for the 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.

Below is a list of grant recipients.

City of Monroe (Butler County)
The city's Public Works Department is responsible for water and sewer maintenance for the city. BWC awarded $27,666.67 to purchase a hydro-excavation system and hydraulics trailer to reduce the ergonomic risk factors associated with manually exercising water/sewer system valves. Risk factors include repetitive motion, excessive force, and awkward postures, in addition to the hazards related to exposure to extreme weather and traffic conditions.

Mid State Restoration, Inc. (Cuyahoga County)
Mid State Restoration is a construction industry employer specializing in masonry restoration. BWC awarded $8,359.93 to purchase new dustless technology safety tools used in concrete finishing work, such as saws, grinders, hammer drills and vacuum systems. These tools will help reduce the risk of injury related to overexposures to silica and noise.

Buckeye Tire Co-Columbus Inc. (Franklin County)
Buckeye Tire is an automobile service facility that specializes in auto, light and heavy duty truck service and repairs. BWC awarded $28,315.80 to purchase a tire balancer with wheel lift and tire changer to reduce the risk of injury related to material handling, forceful exertions and awkward postures.

G.A.G. Inc. (Franklin County)
GAG Inc. is a landscape maintenance company. BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase a mulch mule to reduce the risk of injury related to manual material handling, such as strains/sprains, repetitive motion, slips/trips and falls, and exposure to vehicular traffic.

Archbold Refuse Service, Inc. (Fulton County)
A.R.S. is a waste hauling company for residential, commercial and industrial customers. BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase hydraulic container lock systems to reduce the risk of injury related to manual material handling as yard containers are pushed/pulled to trucks and manually locked in place prior to dumping.

LICCO Industries, Inc. (Licking County)
Licco is a sheltered workshop serving the developmentally disabled population. BWC awarded $3,589.33 to purchase a new edge of dock plate, which includes a hydraulic 30,000 lb wall mounted control station to reduce the risk of slips/trips and falls, and injury to the upper extremities.

LifeCare Ambulance (Lorain County)
LifeCare is an emergency/non-emergency medical transportation provider. BWC awarded $30,792.37 to purchase a Power-LOAD system and three bariatric transport cots to reduce the risk of injury related to manual handling of patients as they are loaded and unloaded from emergency vehicles.

MacQueen Orchards (Lucas County)
MacQueen Orchards is a small family owned apple and peach orchard. BWC awarded $8,266.67 to purchase vented bins to reduce the risk of injury related to manual material handling, such as sprains/strains, in addition to cuts/lacerations from loose metal and nails protruding from wooden crates.

North Toledo Graphics (Lucas County)
North Toledo Graphics is a privately owned printing company that provides mailing and bindery service along with high quality web offset printing. BWC awarded $5,629.66 to purchase portable scissor lifts to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders related to manual material handling and repetitive bending and lifting.

M & M Wine Cellar (Mahoning County)
A service industry employer, M & M Wine Cellar is a small family-owned wine and restaurant business. BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase an automated wine bottling system to reduce the risk of injury related to manually material handling, such as sprains/strains, cuts and lacerations, as well as the ergonomic risks associated with prolonged standing, repetitive motion, and grip force during the bottling process.

MLC Inc., dba Electro Polish Company (Montgomery County)
Electro Polish provides metal finishing service for the tool and die industry. BWC awarded $7,999.98 to purchase a power flight bar, trolley and catwalk to reduce the risk of injury related to material handling, awkward postures, forceful exertions and contact stress.

Gahm's Inc. (Scioto County)
Gahm's is an auto and truck dismantling and recycling center that performs towing, recovery and truck crane services. BWC awarded $15,376.76 to purchase a tire changer with retractable air reels to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury related to manual material handling, forceful exertions and awkward postures.

Countryside Veterinary Service, Inc. (Trumbull County)
BWC awarded $4,031.24 to purchase mobile examination/transport tables to reduce the risk of injury related to manual handling of animals for examination, such as sprains, strains and animal bites.

Marietta Ambulance Service, Ltd (Washington County)
BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase two power load systems for cots, to reduce the risk of injury related to manually lifting and loading patients into emergency vehicles.

Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Williams County)
Bard is a manufacturer of light commercial HVAC equipment. BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase a powered conveyor system to reduce the risk of injury related to manual material handling as HVAC equipment, weighing between 100 -700 lbs, is manually pushed down assembly lines on gravity conveyor systems.

Carey Exempted Village Schools (Wyandot County)
BWC awarded $10,386.67 to purchase lightweight tables to reduce the risk of injury related to manual material handling, such as sprains and strains to the hip, back and shoulders, in addition to pinch points as employees set-up and break down existing heavy weight tables.

Learn more about the Safety Intervention Grant Program and view previous recipients at ohiobwc.com

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