Ohio BWC Focuses On Improving Safety Rates for Ohio's Urban Cities
02/01/08
Garfield Heights, OH (CompNewsNetwork) - The Ohio Bureau of
Workers’ Compensation (BWC) brought together more than a dozen leaders from cities across
the state in an effort to improve safety and help reduce workers’ compensation costs for
each municipality. Cities rank among the highest for workplace injuries and many
communities struggle with high premium rates as a result.
“Public entities traditionally have limited budgets and face unique challenges when it
comes to developing the tools needed for employee safety and the successful management of
workers’ compensation costs,” said BWC Administrator Marsha Ryan. “To meet this challenge,
BWC has developed a strategy to utilize its value-added services to assist Ohio cities in
planning and achieving positive results in the reduction of workplace injuries, while
lowering the cost to taxpayers.”
The day-long session focused on ways to manage safety and training, information about rate
making, cost control strategies and claims management. Participants also heard from
representatives of the City of Canton who demonstrated how their successful workers'
compensation program has benefited that community. The event was coordinated by a BWC
workgroup, tasked with helping public employers better manage their workers’ compensation
and safety programs.
Twenty-nine representatives from 13 cities participated in today’s activities, representing
the cities of: Cleveland, Youngstown, Columbus, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Canton, Euclid,
Shaker Heights, Parma, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland and Garfield Heights. Ohio’s city
and county governments employ more than 231,000 people.
BWC has conducted similar outreach to Ohio’s largest school districts, meeting several
times over the past year. “We have seen how much the school districts have benefited by
learning from one another and we’re excited to provide a similar opportunity for success to
Ohio cities,” Ryan added.
Regardless if an employer is public or private, BWC has a wealth of information and
programs to assist in improving workplace safety and better managing workers’ compensation
costs. To learn more, call 1-800-OHIOBWC or visit ohiobwc.com.
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