For immediate release: December 6, 2012

BWC awards more than $153,000 to support workplace safety

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) awarded safety intervention grants to five Ohio businesses totaling more than $153,000 in October. 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.

"Safety grants are available to businesses in any industry looking to protect the health and wellbeing of their workers," said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. "Many employers find their purchase allows for sometimes the simplest of adjustments that can make a tremendous difference in the number of injuries and corresponding costs associated with claims."

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 October.

City of Girard Fire Dept. (Trumbull County)
BWC awarded $38,570 to purchase an exhaust removal system to reduce carcinogens from diesel exhaust. The City of Girard Fire Department is a public employer that provides fire suppression and emergency medical services to the city's 10,000 residents and thousands of workers.

Bowlin Energy LLC (Hamilton County)
BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase battery powered crimping tools and hydraulic tampers to reduce the risk of strains, sprains and carpal tunnel syndrome resulting from forceful exertions and awkward postures. Bowlin Energy is a private utility employer that repairs and replaces overhead power lines and supporting power poles.

Peerless Saw Company (Franklin County)
BWC awarded $40,000 to purchase a precision leveling machine to perform saw blade flattening. The purchase will reduce ergonomic risk factors associated with manual hammering, including injury to the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. Peerless Saw Company manufactures custom circular saws.

SMI Crankshaft LLC (Seneca County)
BWC awarded $22,078 to purchase a vibratory finishing machine to reduce the risk of injury from vibration, repetitive motion, and awkward postures. The machine will also reduce eye injuries resulting from metal particles. SMI Crankshaft is a finishing operation that produces precision crankshafts from raw forgings and castings.

Buckeye Power Sales (Franklin County)
BWC awarded $12, 754 to purchase 30 hoist systems to reduce the risk of sprains and strains resulting from manual material handling. Buckeye Power Sales sells, delivers and services power generation systems. This grant was awarded through a partnership between BWC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to research how to create safer work environments for employees working in the wholesale/retail trade, and other sectors that perform delivery, installation, receiving or material handling tasks.

Learn more about the Safety Intervention Grant Program and view the stories of previous grant recipients at ohiobwc.com or BWC's YouTube channel.

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