Download registration form
 

BWC announced the following changes will be made to the Drug-Free Safety Program (DFSP) effective July 1, 2012:

• Employers who are group-rated may now apply at the BASIC level of the DFSP for a 4% discount on their premiums. (Previously the BASIC level was only available to those not eligible to join a WC group.) 
• Employers who are group-rated and in the ADVANCED level of the DFSP are now eligible for a 7% discount. Those currently at the ADVANCED level and only realizing a 3% discount on their premiums will automatically be given the full 7% effective July 1, 2012.
• Compatibility of DFSP with other discount programs was expanded. A new compatibility chart is available on the BWC website.

PLEASE contact Working Partners® to discuss your situation and/or your decision to apply for the DFSP during the next application period. Deadline to enroll is April 30, 2012.

If an employer that participates in group rating or group retrospective rating plan sustains a claim within the "green year" period or the prior year, the employer shall attend two hours of safety training annually. The training can be offered by the sponsoring organization, the sponsoring organization's third party administrator, or the bureau. The sponsor will notify members of this requirement and maintain recordkeeping to track completion of this requirement. The sponsor will submit to the bureau a list of members who fail to comply at the conclusion of the first month following the end of the rating year (July 31st).
 

BWC's FY/CY11 Guidelines for Group-Experience and Group-Retrospective Rating Two-Hour Safety Training

Dear Employer:

Each year Ohio employers have the opportunity to participate in BWC’s Group-Experience-Rating Program or Group-Retrospective-Rating Program. While these programs are not required, they do provide you with an opportunity to significantly reduce your workers’ compensation premiums, while increasing your awareness of safety and risk-management strategies.

Workplace safety is an important component of these programs. To succeed in accident prevention, we encourage you to use the many resources available to you. We believe a group-rating program is a partnership that includes you and your employees, your sponsoring organization or third-party administrator (TPA) and BWC. Each has specific roles and responsibilities, all designed to assist in preventing workplace accidents. This letter outlines the safety services expectations you should have as an employer enrolled in a group-rating program.

Download complete letter

Here you'll find more details on each of the 10 steps. The BWC defines each step, outlines requirements and provides implementation suggestions and resources.
 

• 10-Step Business Plan for Safety manual - offers additional resources and a plan check list. Download or order by going to our forms and publications page.
   
• Self-Assessment for the 10-Step Business Plan for Safety (SA-5) - Formerly used with the Premium Discount Program +, we've recently revised this form to apply to any BWC program that requires an annual assessment or simply to assist employers in gauging how successful their efforts are.

ORMCA's Safety Consultant

Gary Hanson, President
American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc.
6920 Meadowland Ave. NW
N. Canton, OH 44720
330/854-4577
FAX: 330/244-8915
ashmci@aol.com

ORMCA's Group Rating Program Administrator - Call today for a FREE quote!

Andre Bradley
CareWorks Consultants, Inc.
5500 Glendon Ct., Ste. 300
PO Box 8101
Dublin, OH  43016
614/526-7225, ext. 7101
800/837-3200, ext. 7107
614/764-7629
andre.bradley@ccitpa.com

Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation

The customer contact center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST.
Toll-free: 1-800-OHIOBWC (1-800-644-6292)
TTY: 1-800-BWC-4-TDD (1-800-292-4833)
Fax: 1-877-520-OHIO (6446)
Mailing address: BWC 30 W. Spring St. Columbus, OH 43215-2256