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Industry-Specific Safety Program changes effective July 1The Division of Safety and Hygiene (DSH) has modified the Industry-Specific Safety Program (ISSP) for Ohio employers who actively partner with DSH to reduce the risk of injuries and illness. The overall goal for ISSP is the identification of risk factors and the implementation of effective control measures that improve employee safety and health. The following changes take effect July 1 for private employers and Jan. 1, 2022 for public employers. Following a DSH safety and health consultation, the employer must now complete DSH follow-up activities before the end of the program year to earn loss prevention activity credits. Follow-up activities may include responding to a DSH action plan or completing a post-training survey. Previously, employers completed a post-consultation survey (SH-29). Learn more about DSH ISSP activity credits Transitional Work Grant program enhancements June 1 We have enhanced our Transitional Work Grant (TWG) program for Ohio employers who actively participate in the recovery and return to work of their employees. Beginning June 1, employers are eligible for a TWG every five years, 100% reimbursement up to their approved grant maximum, and COVID-19 services. Renewable every five years Historically, an employer was only eligible for one TWG during the lifetime of the employer’s policy. The lifetime eligibility criteria has been removed, and an employer may now apply for a TWG every five years. In the event an employer already received a TWG, the five years is calculated from the date of the previous TWG approval. Employers with a TWG approval date prior to June 1, 2016, are immediately eligible to apply for a new grant. 100% reimbursement based on employer size The 3:1 grant match reimbursement methodology has been removed. Grant reimbursement to the employer is now 100% of the submitted invoice up to the employer’s maximum awarded grant. The maximum awarded TWG per employer is based on the employer’s number of employees. The maximum grant amounts are listed below. - 11 - 49 employees – $2,900.
- 50 - 199 employees – $5,200.
- 200 plus employees – $6,300.
An employer may only apply for one grant per policy number; however, employers with multiple policy numbers may combine their grant monies and develop a corporate program. Any unused grant monies are referred to as Implementation Funds and are reserved for an employer use until the grant expires. Implementation funds can be used to purchase services an employer needs to facilitate the use of their transitional work program. COVID-19 services We added two new Implementation Fund services to the program in late 2020. One service is assisting the employer in managing the injured worker’s return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another is assisting the employer in managing the workspace for health and safety during COVID-19. In addition, employers that have a TWG are eligible to apply for our Transitional Work Performance Bonus program. Questions To learn more about this program, visit bwc.ohio.gov and go to Transitional Work Programs or you may email questions to our transitional work unit at TWSupport@bwc.state.oh.us RECOVERY-FRIENDLY TRAINING MODULESLt. Governor Husted today announced that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), RecoveryOhio, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and Working Partners® have partnered together to create three new Recovery-Friendly Training Modules. These training modules will help employers develop their own approach to hiring and retaining employees who are in recovery. The new Recovery-Friendly Training Modules can be found at RecoveryOhio.gov in addition to the five previously launched modules by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce in 2017.
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