Safety Grants Presented by:

Steven Roth, PEErgonomist

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ CompensationDecember 18, 2019

Disclaimer

This presentation is an overview of BWC’s

Safety Grant Programs.

For the full program rules, requirements,

and policies please refer to the BWC

Safety Grant webpage.

Safety Grants

oPurchase equipment that will substantially

reduce or eliminate injuries

oPromote health and wellness

o Implement drug-free workplace

oMinimize firefighters' exposure to

dangerous environmental elements

o Improve school safety

oAssist persons that work with

developmentally disabled children and

adults

Safety Grant Eligibility

State-fund private or public taxing district employer

Ineligible employer categories:

•Employers that pay the minimum administrative

charge or only payroll for elective coverage

•Self-insuring employers

•State agencies

•State universities

Safety Grant Eligibility•Maintain active coverage - not more than 40

days lapsed in the prior 12 months;

•Be current on all monies owed BWC;

•Demonstrate the need for safety intervention;

•Provide two-year baseline data;

•Activated BWC coverage at least two years ago

and completed sufficient payroll and/or true-up

reporting to determine eligibility cycle.

Safety Grant Objectives

oPurchase ergonomic, safety and/or industrial

hygiene equipment

oReduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses

oReduce the frequency and severity of claims

oCollect data to establish best practices to

share with other Ohio employers

Important Program RuleoPrior purchases - You may not use grant money for

safety interventions you've already purchased.

This includes any or all of the following:

• Ordered equipment;

• Received equipment;

• Received paid equipment.

o If you make the purchase/payment prior to receipt

of the grant check, BWC will consider the

purchase retroactive and it will request return of

the funds.

Safety Intervention Grant

Program

oThis program is available to all Ohio state-fund,

private and public taxing district employers to

purchase equipment to eliminate or reduce

workplace hazards. Private and public employers

are eligible for a 3-to-1 matching grant, up to a

maximum grant award of $40,000 for each

eligibility cycle. This means BWC gives $3 for

every $1 the employer contributes.

Workplace Wellness Grant

Program

oThe Workplace Wellness Grant Program (WWGP)

provides funding to assist employers in

establishing training and programs to reduce

health risk factors specific to their employees.

Participating employers may receive $300 per

participating employee over a four-year period, up

to a maximum amount of $15,000 per policy.

Drug-Free Safety Program

Grant

oDrug-Free Safety Program (DFSP) grants are

intended to assist employers in implementing drug-

free workplace programs. BWC will reimburse

employers at rates detailed in the DFSP grants

guide assuming all required documents are

submitted and there is available grant funding.

Firefighter Exposure to

Environmental Elements

Grants (FEEEG) ProgramoBWC uses the Safety Intervention Grant for

Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements

Grant (FEEEG) Program to partner with Ohio

employers to minimize exposure to dangerous

environmental elements. The FEEEG Program is

available only to Ohio firefighter employers.

Eligible employers may receive up to $15,000 for

the duration of the FEEEG program.

Developmental Disabilities

(EWPDD) GrantoBWC uses the Safety Intervention Grant for

Employers working with persons with

Developmental Disabilities (EWPDD) Grant

Program to assist Ohio employers with ensuring

the safety of their staff when carrying out the

services they provide to developmentally disabled

children and adults. Eligible employers may

receive up to $20,000 for the duration of the

EWPDD grant program.

School Safety and Security

Grant (SSSG) Programo BWC's School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG) Program

provides assistance to Ohio employers with ensuring the safety of

their staff who instruct children throughout the state. The program

is available to eligible Ohio employers who wish to purchase

equipment to substantially improve the safety and security of

facilities, and to reduce or eliminate injuries or illnesses associated

with providing educational services to children.

o The program is available only to Ohio employers that operate

licensed preschool through 12th grade educational facilities. Eligible

employers may receive up to $40,000 for the duration of

the program.

Ohio Law Enforcement Body

Armor Grant Programo The Ohio Law Enforcement Body Armor Grant Program is funded by

the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in collaboration with the office of the Ohio Attorney General. The program provides money to eligible law enforcement organizations (LEOs) for the purchase of body armor vests to enhance the safety and prevent injuries among law enforcement officers. Participation in the program is limited to LEOs with, or belong to an active Ohio State Insurance Fund policy with BWC. An eligible local law enforcement agency may request up to $40,000 of grant money during fiscal years 2019 and 2020 combined for the purchase of body armor vests, with a local match of 25 percent. The program is administered by the office of the Ohio Attorney General and information about the grant can be accessed through the portal for LEOs found at the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG).

Transitional Work Grants

Programo Transitional Work Grant Program is designed to help you develop a

transitional work program that's right for your business and your employees. Returning an injured worker to the job as soon as safely possible before the worker is 100 percent recovered lowers your workers' comp costs and improves your bottom line.

o Transitional work grants are 3-to-1 matching grants for companies ranging from 11 to 200+ employees. The maximum grant amounts are:

• 11-49 employees up to $2,900.

• 50-199 employees up to $5,200.

• 200+ employees up to $6,300.

Steps to take before you

apply for a Safety

Intervention Grant

First: Determine EligibilityoBe a state-fund private or public taxing district

employer;

oMaintain active coverage - not more than 40

days lapsed in the prior 12 months;

oBe current on all monies owed BWC;

oDemonstrate the need for safety intervention;

oProvide two-year baseline data;

oActivated BWC coverage at least two years ago

and completed sufficient payroll and/or true-up

reporting to determine eligibility cycle

Eligibility CycleTotal payroll reported for last full policy

year

Eligibility cycle

Greater than $10,000,000 Three (3) years

Greater than $5,000,00 and

Less than $10,000,000

Five (5) years

Greater than $1,000,000 and

Less than $5,000,000

Seven (7) years

Less than $1,000,000 Ten (10) years

Preparing for the BWC

Safety Consultation Visit

Determine the type of

intervention

oVerify the item is not on the BWC safety grant

moratorium list.

oConsult the affected employees in the area of

concern about your plans for implementing the

equipment and solicit their feedback.

oContact vendors to research item.

oYou may wish to arrange for a demo or a trial

period if possible.

Determine the type of

interventionoYou may obtain pictures or drawings to help

illustrate intervention(s).

oGet a recent, detailed price quote(s) for the

intervention(s) from the equipment vendor. The

detailed price quote must be specifically for the

employer applying for the grant funds and must

list all items to be purchased. It's highly

recommended to obtain a quote(s) of 120 days

or longer.

BWC onsite assessment

oThis BWC assessment will be arranged with a

BWC safety consultant, ergonomist, and/or

industrial hygienist.

oGather safety management and safety program

documentation.

oYou will assist the BWC consultant with

facility/job analysis, exposure assessments, etc.

oThe results of the assessment will assist you

when completing the application questions

Completing the online

grant

The Application

oAccess the online application

oPrior to submittal, have the BWC consultant

review a draft of your narrative

oOnce reviewed and approved by BWC

consultant, submit the application

oSubmit supplemental documentation

• W9, Direct Deposit, Vendor Information

• Signed Budget and Agreement

Process to evaluate

and approve your

application

Grant Evaluation and

Approval

The BWC grant coordinator assigned to

your application will contact you throughout

the review process to gather missing

documents, seek clarification and notify you

of the status of your application

Grant Evaluation and

Approval

oThe review committee consists of four technical

advisors representing each of the following

disciplines: safety, ergonomics and industrial

hygiene.

oThe Review Committee schedules weekly reviews

of grant applications.

Intervention Considerations

oMinimum of 5 year life expectancy

o Items frequently replaced are not eligible

o Item limitations

• Under $5,000, ≤ 5 of the same like items

• Over $5,000, No more than 2 of the same like items

oNo job elimination

Awarding Grant Funds

Grant Letter

oAn approved application letter will provide:

• The amount awarded to the employer

• The employer’s required matching amount

and any conditions to the approval

• The equipment approved

• A copy of the approved budget

Grant Letter

oA denied application letter will explain why the

application was denied and if the employer is

encouraged to reapply.

oA pended application letter will explain why the

application was put on hold and what is needed

from the employer to move forward for the final

determination to be made.

After Grant Approval

After the funds are received

and intervention implemented

oSubmit proof of spending, online

oSchedule post intervention BWC consultation

• The Post Report and Post Assessment

oOne Year Case Study, online

oTwo Year Report, online (Replaces quarterly

data reporting)

Safety Grants

oConsider partnering with BWC using the Safety

Grant program to solve a health/safety problem

o If you have an idea, give us a call.

oPlease contact BWC before you submit a Safety

Intervention Grant application.

Steven Roth, PEErgonomist

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

Division of Safety & Hygiene

3401 Park Center Drive

Dayton, OH 45414-2577

513-889-8413

Steven.R.1@bwc.state.oh.us