| DRUG-FREE SAFETY PROGRAM (DFSP) DFSP Annual Report Filing Deadline: The BWC's Drug Free Safety Program Annual Report (DFSP-3 / DFSP-4) for January 1, 2017 start-date participants is due to the BWC by the last business day of September (this year, September 29, 2017). The BWC has sent out notification to current January 1, 2017 Drug-Free Safety Program participants with instructions for filing your annual report. If you have not yet received this notification, please contact your local BWC Employer Representative. For greater efficiency and accuracy, the BWC requests participating employers to submit this report online, and then you must fax all required attachments. The DFSP-3 form is for employers who are participating in the basic or advanced program. The DFSP-4 form is for employers who are participating in the program at a level 0 or "comparable" program in order to maintain approval status on the BWC's state contractor look-up site. For additional guidelines and information on completing your online annual report, please click on the BWC's DFSP-3 (Basic or Advanced Level) Annual Report link: DFSP-3 or DFSP-4 (Comparable Level) Annual Report link: DFSP-4. If you need a copy of a paid testing invoice to include with your report, contact your testing vendor directly. If you need a copy of a paid CompManagement Risk Services training invoice(s), please send an email request with date(s) of training to: cassy.taylor@sedgwickcms.com. Please note: if newly scheduled onsite, online or webinar employee and/or supervisor training was or will be conducted by CompManagement Risk Services between August 21, 2017 and September 20, 2017, invoices will be processed on September 21, 2017 (billing cycle). You will need to note this on your report if you do not receive and pay your training invoice by the reporting due date (September 29, 2017). If you still need to complete your annual supervisor training and employee education training, CompManagement Risk Services offers one (1) hour supervisor and employee webinars to meet your training requirement, along with onsite and online training. Contact our Risk Services department at 1-888-264-2635, ext. 65434 to set up training or inquire about available training opportunities. |
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Risk Services Safety Academy - 4th Quarter 2017 CompManagement Risk Services' fourth quarter 2017 Safety Academy webinar schedule is now available. The safety topics to choose from this quarter are as follows:
- Job Safety Analysis (JSA) & Hazard Assessment
- Effects of Drug Abuse in the Workplace
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
- Safety Strategies for Claims Prevention
- Driver Safety
Click on safety academy for additional information including dates and registration. We will continue to update the schedule on a quarterly basis with industry-specific and/or safety-oriented courses, along with compliance programs that will help you meet OSHA's core regulatory standards. The Safety Academies are both one-hour and two-hour webinar sessions that will provide you with tools to reduce occupational incidents, eliminate potential physical hazards and create an overall safer working environment. These courses will also meet the BWC's Group Rating / Group Retro Rating programs' safety training requirement. For additional safety training options or information about training requirements, contact us at 1-888-264-2635, ext. 65434. |
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Now accepting applications!
BWC has established the Safety Innovations Competition to encourage and recognize innovative solutions that reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses. Preventing harm benefits everyone - employers and employees alike. Showcasing the most successful innovations helps other Ohio employers in their safety efforts and can inspire them to develop innovative solutions of their own.
Eligibility requirements Ohio employers must meet all the criteria below to apply.
- Implemented an effective, innovative solution to improve an occupational safety or health issue between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30, 2016, and using it
- Have an Ohio BWC policy number
- Maintain active workers' compensation coverage with not more than 40 days lapsed in the prior 12 months
- Be current on all monies owed BWC
NOTE: Employers may not re-enter an innovation previously entered for a BWC-sponsored Safety Innovation Award. However, you may enter a different innovation.
Cash awards: Our Division of Safety & Hygiene will select the finalists who will compete for cash awards during the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
- 1st Place - $6,000
- 2nd Place - $4,000
- 3rd Place - $3,000
- Honorable mention - $1,500
- Honorable mention - $1,500
- People's Choice - $1,000
Time table
| Application submission period |
July 17 to Sept. 30, 2017 |
| First round judging |
Oct.1 to 30, 2017 |
| Semifinalist announced |
Oct. 31, 2017 |
| Second round judging |
Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, 2017 |
| Finalist announced |
Jan. 8, 2018 |
| Finalists display and judged at OSC18 |
March 6 to 8, 2018 |
| Finalists announced at OSC18 |
March 8, 2018 |
For more information, click on Innovations, or call 1-800-644-6292.
BWC.Ohio.gov
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AUTUMN SAFETY TIPS: PROTECT WHAT MATTERS THIS FALL The crisp weather and color-changing leaves make it a great time to spruce up your home, go for a drive, walk your pets or cozy up indoors. But with all those things comes the potential for danger. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings whether you live in the country or the city. Here are some autumn safety tips for your family, home, car, and pets, for a safe and enjoyable fall season. Personal
- Get a flu shot. Even though you could still get sick after getting the shot, the vaccine can provide protection against severe complications from the flu.
- Wash your hands. One of the best ways to avoid getting sick is to wash them regularly and thoroughly. Use hot water, plenty of soap, and wash for at least 30 seconds.
- If you’re a workaholic and get sick, avoid going to work and spreading it to your team. Your boss and coworkers will thank you because group productivity won’t be at risk. It’s easier to deal with one person away from the office than several, all because you coughed on them.
- Raking leaves? Prevent back injuries by standing upright while raking and pull from your arms and legs. Don’t overfill leaf bags, and when picking them up, bend at the knee and use your legs, not your back, for support.
- If you use a leaf blower, shield yourself. Wear appropriate clothing, eye protection, and work boots to prevent injury.
- Do not allow children to play in leaf piles near the curb. The piles can obstruct the view of drivers and put your child at risk for getting hit, especially since it gets dark outside earlier.
Home
- Every month should be fire prevention month, but we tend to plug in a lot more devices in the fall and winter. It’s important to test all smoke alarms and have a family fire drill. Remember to replace used and expired fire extinguishers as well.
- Turn your heater on before the temperatures really plummet so you can ensure it works. Contact a technician to inspect that it’s operating properly if you suspect it needs servicing.
- Keep all flammable materials away from your furnace. This includes, clothing, paint products, toxic materials, cardboard and more.
- If you use a portable or space heater, keep it away from clothing, bedding, drapery and furniture. Remember to shut them off if you leave the house and don’t leave them unattended if you have children or pets.
- If you have a fireplace, inspect the chimney to confirm it is free of debris, creosote buildup, and is unobstructed so combustibles can vent. Make sure the bricks, mortar and liner are in good condition.
- Do not warm your kitchen with a gas range or an open oven door, as this can lead to toxic air that is not safe to breathe.
- Keep matches, lighters and candles out of the reach of children and pets.
- When burning a candle, don’t leave it unattended, burning near other flammable items or on an unsteady surface.
- Doing laundry? Avoid fires by cleaning filters after each load of wash and removing lint that collects in dryer vents.
- Do a quick check for areas that may need repair before extreme weather hits: unsteady roof shingles, warped windowsills and concrete that might be sloping toward the house.
- Check all outdoor lighting fixtures to make sure they are working properly. This can safeguard you against falls and neighborhood crime.
- Clean your gutters by removing all debris and leaves.
- Before burning leaves, check your city’s regulations, as it may be illegal where you live. If you burn them, do so away from the house and use proper containers.
Car
- With fewer hours of daylight, it can be difficult to see pedestrians or cyclists clearly, so if you don’t have automatic headlights, make sure they are on at the onset of dusk.
- In the mornings, the sun can be extremely bright, making it difficult to see brake lights ahead. Keep a pair of sunglasses in your car to reduce glare and protect your vision.
- Temperatures can also affect driving performance. Clear your windshield of frost before beginning your journey and turn on your defogger if necessary. Frost can also form on the road surface without being visible, so be cautious in wooded areas, bridges and overpasses, where ice can quickly develop. Remember, leaves + rain can also make for a very slippery surface!
- Keep an emergency kit in your trunk. Some can be found in stores already pre-made for convenience, but if you want to create your own, be sure to include a flashlight, first-aid kit, jumper cables, windshield washer fluid and basic tools. You might even consider purchasing a car battery charger if you have a long commute each day.
- “Don’t veer for deer.” Meaning, don’t swerve! You could lose control of the car quickly, especially if you are on a curve or narrow road with little to no shoulder. Instead, brake firmly with both hands on the wheel to come to a controlled stop.
Make the fall season a happy and safe one by being prepared, having a high level of awareness and knowing the right resources to contact if you’re in doubt of what to do.
September is Safe Driving Awareness Month in Ohio September is Safe Driving Awareness Month, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol is asking motorists to commit to driving buckled, focused and sober. In addition, motorists can help keep roadways safe by planning ahead, allowing for extra time and being knowledgeable of traffic safety laws. Last year, 1,133 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Although fatal crashes rose slightly in 2016, Ohio is still on pace with record low fatal numbers. “Motorists can reduce their risk of getting into a crash, by devoting their full attention to the road,” said Lt. Steven K. Herron, Post Commander. “Ohio’s roadways are safest when we share the road, buckle up and never drive impaired or distracted.” September was designated as Safe Driving Awareness Month in June 2014 by Senate Bill 294 to honor Maria Tiberi and other victims of motor vehicle crashes. Maria Tiberi was a 21-year-old college student who died in a distracted driving crash in September 2013. To view the statistical analysis regarding our safe driving awareness month visit: www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/doc/SafeDriving_Bulletin_2017.pdf As always, the Patrol asks drivers to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity. Ohio State Patrol |
