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GENERAL SECTION
Money Available for Ergonomics Programs from Ohio BWC
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) enacted Phase II of their SafetyGRANT$ program in 2001. The purpose of the BWC program is to encourage prevention of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) by offering matching grants to offset the employers’ costs.
Eligible employers include those who are state funded employers, those who have strived to prevent CTDs, who maintain active coverage, and who have filed a minimum of one claim for the task affected by the intervention within the last two years.
A BWC Division of Safety and Hygiene ergonomist reviews the grant applications. Applicants may receive a 4 to 1 matching grant up to a maximum of $40,000, being provided by BWC, $10,000 from the applicant. Therefore, a total of $50,000 would be available to reduce and/or eliminate the risk of CTDs in the workplace. The approved applicant has three months to purchase and implement the intervention. Measurement data must be reported every three months over the two-year program. Grant money may not be used retroactively.
The following requirements apply to applicants for the SafetyGRANT$ program. The applicants must:
- Provide BWC with measurements of improvements made through the grant;
- Attend a one day free course on ergonomics taught by the BWC;
- Provide a risk-factor analysis for each affected task to the BWC;
- Provide information about injuries, productivity and quality affected by the intervention;
- Allow BWC to share the intervention information with other employers (company name does not have to be shared);
- Allow BWC access to information; and
- Allow BWC to access and observe the work site, take pictures, etc.
BWC is currently not accepting CTD applications for grant money to purchase powered dollies, skid steerers, front-end loaders, automated dirt-moving equipment, forklifts/tow motors, transplanters and taggers, floor mats and lightweights tables.
An application for the SafetyGRANT$ program and other information may be obtained from the Ohio BWC Safety Grant Program Coordinator at 1-800-OhioBWC. The program is also described under OAC 4123-17-58 and
4123-17-56.
The program will end when the $4,000,000 available to the State is exhausted.
SUMMARY
Your company may be able to take advantage of the SafetyGRANT$ program to obtain funding for needed ergonomics projects. Up to $40K is available to companies that meet Ohio BWC’s criteria for eligibility. If you would like assistance in pursuing a SafetyGRANT$ application, please contact Dan Woody or Emily Rynders at the Payne Firm at (513) 489-2255 or via e-mail at dtw@paynefirm.com or ear@paynefirm.com.
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