BWC Grants and Incentive Programs

Erin RosielloBWC Southwest Regional Business Development Manager

Tim McDermottBWC Regional Business Consultant

Tom BloomBWC Industrial Safety Consultant

2013: A Billion Backo $1 billion in premium rebates to Ohio employerso Increased safety grant funding from $5 to $15 million

2014: Another Billion Backo $1 billion in premium rebates to Ohio employerso Increased commitment to safety to $35 milliono Created new safety initiatives to improve the safety, health and wellness of Ohio’s workforce

• expanded Safety Council Program to include health & wellness• $2 million for advanced research projects in workplace safety & health• $1 million for development of safety curricula and skilled labor training• $1 million for volunteer firefighter safety training

BWC Grantso Safety Intervention Granto Workplace Wellness Granto Transitional Work Granto Drug-Free Safety Program

o Go-green Discounto Lapse-free Discounto Safety Councilo Industry-Specific Safetyo Drug-Free Safety Programo Transitional Work Bonus

BWC Incentive Programs

Safety Intervention Grant (SIG)o Purpose: To assist employers in managing the

financial costs associated with implementing safety measures to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace

o Funds go toward the purchase or improvement of equipment to significantly reduce or eliminate the risk of injury

o 3-to-1 matching funds, up to a maximum of $40,000 per employer eligibility cycle

SIG Eligibility Cycle

Total payroll reported for last full policy year

Eligibility cycle

o $6,256,894 direct cost of Phase 2 grantso $6,315,301 saved from Phase 2 grantso 1.98 years payback period (return on investment)o 81% reduction in cost for injuries per 100 FTE

SIG Initial Results

o Return on investment (ROI): range 6 to 31 monthso 77.6% of companies report improvement in productivityo 27.9% of companies report improvement in qualityo 28.6% of companies report decrease in absenteeismo 66% reduction in claims following safety intervention

SIG Recent Results

SIG: Awarded Grants

o Lift tables

o Fall protection systems

o Transfer tables

o Conveyors

o Cranes/hoists

o Lift devices

o Robots

o Vacuum lifts

Manufacturing

o Tarping systems

o Lift gates

o Mobile conveyor

o Lift assists

o Powered hand trucks

o Ratchet binders

o Height adjustable dollies

o Portable (safety) step ladders

o Pallet positioners

Transportation

SIG: Awarded Grants

o Patient ambulation devices

o Total lifts

o Sit/Stand lifts

o Ceiling lifts

o Electric adjustable beds

o Bathing systems

o Patient bathing & toilet chairs

o Lateral transfer devices

o Bladder scanners

o Motorized carts

Health - Social Services o Powered dollies

o Stair climbing carts

o Manhole cover lifters

o Cranes/hoists

o Powered wheelbarrows

o Cable pullers

o Hydraulic breakers

o Lifting devices

Construction

SIG: Awarded Grantso Powered cot/cot loading systems o Hydraulic powered breakers o Electric adjustable beds o Chest compression systemso Lift devices

Public Employerso Vest carriers o Stair chairs o Lift gates o Carts/dollies o Post drivers

Grant Eligibilityo Must be state-fund or public employer taxing district.

o Must maintain active coverage.

o Must be current on all monies owed to BWC.

o Demonstrate the need for a safety intervention.

o Provide two-year baseline data as requested in application.

o Have active BWC coverage with past payroll reports for the purpose of defining employer eligibility cycle (four for private; two for public).

Grant Requirementso Complete application

o Implement intervention

o Submit documentation of purchase

o Complete quarterly reports for two years

o Submit one-year case study report

o Allow BWC staff access to worksite to evaluate and document intervention

o Allow BWC to share case study info

In the last two years: o 1054 employers were awarded safety grantso $28,898,687 total amount safety grantso $27,418 average grant amount

From 7-1-15 through 11-30-15o 406 safety grant applications receivedo $11,254,146 total grant amounts approvedo Approvals projected to continue into February 2016 

Safety Grant Awards

Workplace Wellness Granto Purpose: To assist employers with the development

and implementation of workplace wellness program

o Goal: To control escalating costs of claims by addressing health-risk factors

o Collateral goals: Reduces health-care costs and improves health and well-being of workforce

o Employers may receive $300 per participating employee over four-year period, up to $15,000 per employer.

Wellness Grant Basicso A workplace wellness program consists of:

• A health-risk appraisal (HRA) and a biometric assessment, both of which measure health-risk factors;

• Programs designed to address those health-risk factors.

o Funds to compensate wellness program vendor for:• HRA and a biometric analysis.

o The employer must submit:• Completed application online.• Complete the Safety Management Self-Assessment (SH-26)• An annual case study to:

• Assess the impact of wellness on workplace safety, and frequency and severity of workers’ comp claims;

• Establish best practices for the implementation of a workplace wellness program.

Eligibility Requirementso Must be a state-fund employer to apply.o Each policy number is eligible for the grant.o Must be current on monies owed to BWC – not more

than 45 days past due.o Must maintain active coverage – not more that 40 days

lapsed in the prior 12 months.o Cannot have comprehensive workplace wellness

program already in place.• A comprehensive workplace wellness program is a program that

consists of a tool that measures heath-risk factors AND programs designed to address those health-risk factors.

Wellness Grant Fundingo Maximum per policy number is $15,000.o Employers will receive a total of $300 per participating employee, up

to 50 employees per employer.o Employers will receive $100 for first year, $75 for second and third

years, and $50 for fourth year. o To receive funding for every year, an employer to receive must

participate in the grant program for all four years consecutively.

In the last two years:o 285 wellness grants awardedo $816,489 total amount of wellness grantso $2,865 average wellness grant

What Is Transitional Work? o Claims-management tool and strategy that allows

injured workers to remain at work or return to work by accommodating physicians’ restrictions

o Helps both the injured worker by offering structure and stability, and the employer with costs and productivity

o Helps keep the employee vested in work both physically and mentally, and allows them to continue with normal pay and benefits

Transitional Work Exampleo The injured worker can’t use their left arm.o The physician provides restrictions to the employer via

the Physician’s Report of Work Ability (MEDCO-14)o The employer looks at job analysis to determine the

portion of the worker’s current job that they are able to perform.

o The employer looks at job bank list (a list of job tasks and descriptions) and creates a job to accommodate the worker.

Transitional Work Exampleo As the worker progresses in recovery and strength,

they perform more of the job functions until they are capable of performing their job without restrictions.

o Before the worker returns to work, the employer presents them with a written agreement outlining the terms of transitional work (e.g., restrictions, work tasks offered, date to begin and length of time in the program. The employer and worker sign and date this agreement.

Transitional Work Grants o 3-to-1 matching grants help employers contract with a

BWC-accredited transitional work developer to help establish a program

o Provides funds to hire a BWC-accredited transitional work developer to design customized (program) plan

o 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.

BWC-Accredited Transitional Work Developers:o Design a specialized training plan for employees;o Perform job analyses on job classifications you select. This is an

invaluable tool used to identify the appropriate job tasks an injured worker can perform while participating in transitional work;

o Compile customized policies and procedures;o Work with your company’s union(s) if applicable;o Create a community resource directory and establish a

relationship with health-care providers to help them understand your business operations;

o Are listed on www.bwc.ohio.gov.

Eligibility Requirementso An employer must have:• 11 or more employees;

• At least one lost-time claim in its claims experience;

• Been in existence for at least two years.

o An employer who has more than one but less than two full years of recorded premium is eligible to receive a transitional work grant even if such employer does not have a lost-time claim in its claim history.

Eligibility RequirementsTransitional Work Grants are NOT available for: oEmployers who pay the minimum administrative

charge or only payroll for elective coverage;oSole proprietors;oEmployers who have previously received a

Transitional Work Grant (2001 to 2006);oSelf-insuring employers, state agencies, state

colleges and universities;oCompanies that offer transitional work development

as a service.

Grant Reimbursemento BWC will reimburse an employer 75 percent of the

total cost paid to the transitional work developer for covered services. BWC places the remaining funds in an implementation fund.

o Note: The maximum rate per service is: • $200 per hour for transitional work developer labor;• $200 per job analysis.

Grant Reimbursemento There is no maximum number of transitional work

developer hours or number of job analyses per employer. Reimbursement cannot exceed maximum amount of employer’s grant.

o The employer submits a completed transitional work plan to BWC’s transitional work unit. BWC reviews the plan is to determine if it meets guidelines for approval and grant reimbursement.

o If approved, BWC sends an email notifying the employer. BWC distributes funds after review/approval of the plan.

Implementation Fundo Monetary assistance in implementing or updating planso Available during the grant program’s existence

o Must be for the following approved services:• Consultation by case manager for assistance with the first

claim;

• Training;

• Job analysis;

• Program evaluation.

o Subject to 3-to-1 match until the balance is $200. At $200, the remainder is paid in full.

Grants by Industry Types

Grant Amounts 3-to-1 Matcho 11-49 up to $2,900o 50-199 up to $5,200o 200+ up to $6,300o If a number was not

reported on the last payroll report or is no longer correct, it may be entered/updated on the web when completing the online application.

Employees

Grant Level

Count

11-49 $2,900 66

50-199 $5,200 117

200+ $6,300 57

Transitional Work GrantsIn the last two years:o 430 transitional work grant applications received

o 264 transitional work grant plans approved

o 118 transitional work grant plans pending approval

o 240 transitional work grants funded

o $629,519 paid to fund transitional work grants

o $530,880 pending transitional work grant plans approval

Drug Free Safety Program (DFSP)o Purpose: Help employers design a workplace free of

alcohol and other drugs, using proven safety processeso Goal: Positively impact the lives employees, their

families and the community by adopting a drug-free environment

o Limited start-up grants to offset costs involved in implementing a compliant DFSP in the workplace

o State-fund private or public employers participating in the DFSP may apply for start-up grant money from BWC within their first two years of DFSP participation.

DFSP Grant Guidelineso The DFSP grant is a reimbursement funding tool.o Recipients must provide documentation of expenses related

to implementing a DFSP.o BWC is cannot reimburse bundled charges. All charges must

be itemized.o Participating DFSP employers may use grant dollars to

meet the following requirements: • Up to two consecutive years of grant support in terms of employee

education and supervisor training;• One-time-only development of a written DFSP policy which also

undergoes a review from appropriate external, non-corporate legal counsel.

Eligibility Requirementso A state-fund employero Current on all monies owed BWCo Maintain active coverageo Participate in BWC’s DFSP even if the employer is not

eligible for DFSP Basic- or Advanced-level rebates due to participating concurrently in another BWC program

o Be in the initial DFSP participation year or the next consecutive program year following the initial program year

DFSP Grant Funding

In the last two years:o 214 DFSP grants awardedo $235,681 total amount of DFSP grantso $1,101 average DFSP grant

BWC Grantso Safety Intervention Grants (up to) $40,000 $ 40,000

o Workplace Wellness Grant $15,000 $15,000

o Transitional Work Grant $2,900 $6,300

o DFSP Grant $2,600 $4,450

$60,500 $65,750

How much has your company received?

Destination Excellenceo Go-green Discount Programo Lapse-free Discount Programo Safety Council Programo Industry-Specific Safety Programo Drug Free Safety Programo Transitional Work Bonus Program

DE Program DiscountsComponent Initial Back-end Earliest Deadline

Go-green discount 1% --- Pay online

Lapse-free discount 1% --- Automatic

Safety councils 2% 2% July 30, 2015

Industry-specific safety 3% --- May 27,2015

DFSP 4 to 7% --- May 27,2015

Vocational rehabilitation --- reimbursements

Transitional work bonus --- 10% May 27,2015

Transitional work grant Ongoing

Grow Ohio Incentive (2011)Allowed new employers to select one option:o Join a group-rating program and receive a premium discount up to 53 % effective on first day of coverage.o Receive a 25-percent premium discount

Grow Ohio Incentive:o 192,628 new to Ohio employerso $166,441,550 new premiumo $44,861,301 program savings

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Industry-Specific Safety Programo Increase workplace safety, implement industry best practiceso 3% incentive to complete 1 to 3 safety activities (based on size)o 4,710 employers earnedo $7,252,493 in premium discounts

Destination: Excellence

Transitional Work BonusoRTW performance calculated six months after end of yearoBased on % of feasible claims that successfully utilize programoRebate up to 10% off pure-premium for established periodo3,672 employers earnedo$6,973,960 in bonus rebates

Destination: ExcellenceGo-greeno Incentive for employers to complete all transactions onlineo 1% up to $2,000 yearo 85,306 employers earnedo $7,491,239 in premium discounts

Lapse-freeo Incentive to pay online and have no lapses in last 60 monthso 1% up to $2,000 yearo 270,283 employers earned o $16,622,902 in premium discounts

Drug-Free Safety Programo Incentive to eliminate drugs and alcohol in workplaceo 4% incentive (basic level) and 7% incentive (advanced level)

o 14,219 employers earned

o $26,244,767 in premium discounts

Safety Councils (BWC funds 82 safety councils)

Destination: Excellence

o Increase workplace safety, learn to manage workers’ comp programo 2% incentive (participation) and 2% (performance)

o 34,676 employers earned

o $38,800,000 in premium discounts

Next Steps o Go to www.bwc.ohio.gov.

o Safety Intervention Grant – Meet with your safety consultant.

o DFSP Grant – Discuss with your employer service specialist or safety consultant.

o Transitional Work Grant – Contact your employer service specialist or safety consultant.

o Workplace Wellness Grant – Ergonomist

Questions