October Safety Council Updates:

WCSC FY22 Monthly Virtual Meeting Schedule & Topics

MEGA Meeting Information!

All Ohio employers are invited to attend two online statewide meetings hosted by BWC to supplement the Ohio Safety Council Program year.

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Leading from Your Heart!

David Sarkus, MS, CSP is Chief Servant Leader and Founder of David Sarkus International, a leading health and safety management consulting and training firm

Click here to join this Live Event

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Now What? How to Lead by Bringing Your Human to Work

Erica Keswin is a two-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author, internationally sought-after speaker, and workplace strategist

Ohio Safety Council Mega Meetings 2021-2022

LEADING FROM THE HEART: Grow your Safety Culture beyond Compliance to Commitment

BWC's Mega Meeting

Wednesday, Oct. 6th 11am-12noon

Virtual Platform: Microsoft Teams

This BWC presentation is available to all businesses, and is not limited to members of our Chamber or Safety Council! The topic is relevant for all who seek to implement and support a Culture of Safety in their workplace.  Our Keynote Speaker is David J. Sarkus, MS, CSP. (View the Flyer)

Benefits to participating include learning to:
Impact attitudes and actions in deeper and broader ways for three especially important types of changes in attitudes and actions.  Turn your followers into safety leaders and champions!

Develop a culture where safety is viewed as vital to the health of your organization by also experiencing positive changes in productivity, quality, and morale

To participate in the session on your own device: If you plan to particpate, there is no need to register with our safety council.  Log in to the webinar on Oct. 6th by using the Link on the BWC flyer. This will be a Microsoft Teams webinar. If you do not currently use MS Teams, you may want to download ahead of time!

About the keynote presentation:

This inspiring keynote presentation, which parallels servant leadership principles, is infused with humor, and will reveal seven contemporary and empirically based principles that will move your people from superficial compliance to deeper and more durable forms of personal commitment to safety. 

You’ll leave this talk with actionable ways to: 

•  Impact attitudes and actions in deeper and broader ways for three especially important   types of changes in attitudes and actions 

• Turn your followers into safety leaders and champions Develop a culture where safety is viewed as vital to the health of your organization by also experiencing positive changes in productivity, quality, and morale.

Meetings will feature a welcome from BWC Administrator Stephanie McCloud!
Keynote speaker David J. Sarkus, MS, CSP is Chief Servant Leader and Founder of David Sarkus International Inc., a leading health and safety management consulting and training firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

BWC is hosting a number of occupational safety and health webinars and virtual classes in September including:

              Weekly Webinars –presented live with BWC discount program & continuing education credits

• So you had a Claim, Now What? (September 14)

Virtual classes -

• Violence in the Workplace (September 8)
• Emergency Preparedness Planning Half-day Workshop (September 16)
• Health Hazards and Toxicology Fundamentals (September 28 & 29)
• Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Awareness (September 30)

Online E-Courses

• Bloodborne Pathogens, Developing a Safety Culture, OSHA Recordkeeping 101 and others

Additional information on all September distance learning, including registration, is found in the attached flyer.  

For more information or assistance when registering, contact the staff member listed or dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

Free BWC Webinars & Virtual Classes - August 2021

BWC is hosting a number of occupational safety and health webinars and virtual classes in August including:

              Weekly Webinars –presented live with BWC discount program & continuing education credits

• Engaging Millennials in Safety (August 10)
• Advice on Creating a Successful Safety & Health Management Program (August 11)
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Safety Teams (August 12)
• BWC Transitional Work Program and Updates (August 24)

Virtual classes -

• Lockout/Tagout and Safety-Related Work Practices (August 4)
• Work Zone Traffic Control and Safety (August 18)
• Confined Space Assessment and Work (August 23 & 24)
• Electrical Safety in the Workplace through Insight and Implementation of NFPA 70E (August 30 & 31)

Online E-Courses

• Bloodborne Pathogens, Developing a Safety Culture, OSHA Recordkeeping 101 and others

Additional information on all August distance learning, including registration, is found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact the staff member listed or dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

BWC is hosting a number of occupational safety and health webinars and virtual classes in June including:

              Weekly Webinars –presented live with BWC discount program & continuing education credits

• OSHA Knocks on the Door (June 8)
• Trenching Safety Stand Down (June 15)
• A PERRP-spective on the Fire Chief’s Role in Compliance (June 21)
• The fight beyond the fire: Battling carcinogens before, during and after the fireground (June 23)

Virtual classes -

• Ergonomic Risk Factors: Understanding and  Identifying (June 1)
• Electrical Safety in the Workplace through Insight and Implementation of NFPA 70E (June 2-3)
• Emergency Preparedness Planning Half-day Workshop (June 8)
• Thermal Stress (June 9)
• Safety Series Workshop Module 4: Walking Working Surfaces and Emergency Action Plan Basics (June 17)
• Effective Safety Teams Half-day Workshop (June 22)
• Job Safety Analysis (June 24)
• Safety for the Non-Safety Professional (June 29-30)

Online E-Courses

• Bloodborne Pathogens, Developing a Safety Culture, OSHA Recordkeeping 101 and others

Additional information on all June distance learning, including registration, is found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact the staff member listed or dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

BWC Safety Update June 2021

Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation sent this bulletin at 06/01/2021 09:30 AM EDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. BWC Featured Items BWC Blog With temperatures heating up, workers should take extra precautions to prevent heat illness. In a two-part blog series, we shared how to identify the signs and symptoms and tips to avoid heat illness. As part of National Electrical Safety Month, we also shared resources to prevent electrical injuries. Heat Stress Bulletin When working in high-temperature areas for extended periods of time, the body’s cooling process can be disrupted. When this happens, a heat-related illness can occur. Heat illnesses is very serious and can progress rapidly. Our Heat Stress Safety Bulletin covers signs and symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and first aid. Auger Bulletin Augers are common tools found in a variety of industries and can pose a significant danger to workers. Our Auger Safety Bulletin discusses ways to prevent auger accidents through maintenance, training, and when operating. Overexertion Among Construction Workers The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control recently published an article Workers’ Compensation Claim Rates and Costs for Musculoskeletal Disorders Related to Overexertion Among Construction Workers—Ohio, 2007–2017. The article examined the rate and cost of work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) claims from overexertion among Ohio construction workers during 2007–2017. Two PERRP Webinars A PERRP-spective on the Fire Chief’s Role in Compliance – This webinar will provide you with an overview of the Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) and the most common OSHA/PERRP standards identified at fire departments. The webinar is 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on June. 21. Register online. The fight beyond the fire: Battling carcinogens before, during and after the fire ground – This webinar will help identify the main routes of potential carcinogenic exposures and ways to mitigate or reduce exposures. The webinar is 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 23. Register online. BWC Trenching Safety Stand Down Webinar Trenching poses some of the most severe hazards in the construction industry and sadly, trench failure is a leading cause of an increasing number of fatalities. Sign up to learn more on how to identify risk factors. The webinar is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on June 15. Register online. NIOSH/CDC News NIOSH Turns 50 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of NIOSH. Created by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970, NIOSH was established as a separate and independent research program to create objective scientific research findings in the field of occupational safety and health. NIOSH Bibliography This publication has a special report about NIOSH after 50 years and a listing of all of the 2020 produced articles, book chapters, and other NIOSH-produced materials. Of note are projects the Ohio BWC collaborated on (see pages 58, 68, 73, and 90). Teen Safety – Teaching Talking Safety If your teen has a summer job or if you hire teens at your workplace here are six short videos with safety on the job information. These videos are part of the Youth Work Talking Safety curriculum. New Publication Prescription Opioid and Benzodiazepine Medications and Occupational Safety and Health has a summary of findings from academic publications and information for employers and healthcare providers about the prescription use of opioids and benzodiazepines. NIOSH Webinar On June 9th at 12:00 pm, representatives from major industry sectors discuss occupational safety and health challenges facing workers in the post-pandemic world. Register here. OSHA News New Guidance Documents on Beryllium Safety OSHA released six new documents to aid employers in following beryllium safety regulations. Beryllium is a metal used in the aerospace, telecommunications, information technology, defense, medical, and nuclear industries. Workers such as foundry workers, machine operators, and dental technicians have potential exposure to beryllium. Small Entity Compliance Guide for Beryllium in General Industry. Interim Enforcement Guidance for the 2020 Final Beryllium Standards. Frequently Asked Questions: Beryllium and the OSHA Beryllium Standards. OSHA QuickCard® Beryllium: Worker Information on the BeLPT. OSHA QuickCard® Beryllium Medical Surveillance Information for Workers. Beryllium: Guidance on Medical Surveillance for Beryllium Exposed Workers. Spanish Language Fall Protection Webinar. OSHA presented a Spanish-language webinar during the National Safety Stand Down to Prevent Falls. A video and slide presentation are available. Other News Stress Less with Deep Breaths Whether it is misplacing the car keys, new changes at work, or helping the kids get ready for summer break, we all are experiencing some type of stress! Stress is not always bad though. Stress becomes a problem when it is frequent or ongoing. This can lead to negative health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or muscle pain. There are healthy ways to manage stress, like deep breathing! Deep breathing can help relax our bodies, boost our mood, and lower blood pressure. Next time you're feeling tense or anxious close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. For more information, click here. #BWCWellness Updated COVID-19 Worker Protection Training Program National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program updated the Building Programs to Protect Workers from COVID-19 in the Workplace course. This awareness level training is designed to inform workers who must work during the pandemic how to protect themselves and co-workers from exposure to the virus. For a PDF version of the slides use this link. Mental Health Cost Calculator The National Safety Council collaborated with the nonpartisan and objective research organization NORC at the University of Chicago to create a program to calculate the cost of employee mental health and illness for employers based on number of employees, industry, and location. Top 10 Violation Blog Series The National Safety Council published a series of posts to their On Safety blog regarding the OSHA top 10 violation for 2019-2020. Each post looks at different industries. On Safety: A closer look at OSHA’s ‘Top 10’ violations – Part I On Safety: A closer look at OSHA’s ‘Top 10’ violations – Part II On Safety: A closer look at OSHA’s ‘Top 10’ violations – Part III On Safety: A closer look at OSHA Top 10 violations – Part IV Competent Person and OSHA Many OSHA standards refer to training by a “competent person”. Do you really know what that means? This article in Safety + Health magazine discusses the concept of the competent person and how it differs from qualified, certified, or authorized person. Construction Fatality Map Dashboard This data visualization tool from the Center for Construction Research and Training maps out the location of construction fatalities. The data from the map is also available as a spreadsheet and includes data from OSHA fatality investigations and online media sources gathered since 2011. The Ohio BWC Library of BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene compiles and distributes this newsletter each month.  Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Vision: To transform BWC into an agile organization driven by customer success. Mission: To deliver consistently excellent experiences for each BWC customer every day. Core Values: One Agency, Personal Connection, Innovative Leadership, Relentless Excellence. Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Ohio and serves 249,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,700 employees and assets of approximately $25 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. For more, visit www.bwc.ohio.gov.

SHARONVILLE SAFETY FORUM

SHARONVILLE CONVENTION CENTER

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 8:30AM TO 12 NOON

If you are interested in attending, the link is: https://sharonvillechamber.regfox.com/sharonville-safety-forum. 

Free BWC Webinar: Conducting Safety Inspections in the Workplace

Join us for a special two-hour event on Conducting Safety Inspections in the Workplace on Tuesday, May 11 (11 a.m.  – 1 p.m.). This webinar will examine workplace hazards to help prevent incidents, injuries and illnesses.

The webinar will be instructed by BWC’s Brian Zachetti, an Industrial Safety Consultant in the Youngstown Service Office.

Additional information, including registration instructions, continuing education & BWC discount program credits can be found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Kaylee Blevings at Kaylee.B.1@bwc.state.oh.us.

BWC is hosting a number of occupational safety and health webinars and virtual classes in May including:

              National Fall Protection Stand-Down Event

• Fall Protection Equipment Misuse: Don’t Fall For It! (May 3)

Weekly Webinars –presented live with BWC discount program & continuing education credits

• Prevent Falls in All Industries (May 4)
• Special Two-Hour Event – Conducting Safety Inspections in the Workplace (May 11)
• Is Fatigue Affecting Your Safety Program? (May 23)

Virtual classes -

• Accident Analysis Half-day Workshop (May 4)
• Lockout/Tagout and Safety-related Work Practices (May 5)
• Confined Space Assessment and Work (May 11-12)
• Safety Series Workshop Module 3: Hazard Communication and Personal Protective Equipment Basics (May 13)
• Violence in the Workplace (May 18)
• Work Zone Traffic Control and Safety (May 19)
• Safety Series Workshop Module 2: Ergonomics, Accident Analysis, and Hazard Assessment Basics (May 20)
• Machine Guarding Basics (May 26)

Online E-Courses

• Bloodborne Pathogens, Developing a Safety Culture, OSHA Recordkeeping 101 and others

Additional information on all May distance learning, including registration, is found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact the staff member listed or dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

Click HERE for information on May's Distance Learning

Click HERE for the Fall Protection Equipment Misuse 

BWC is hosting a number of occupational safety and health webinars and virtual classes in March including:

                Weekly Webinars –presented live with BWC discount program & continuing education credits

• Reducing COVID-19 Transmission Through HVAC Improvements
• Is This a Confined Space: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
• Accident Analysis (two dates)

Virtual classes -

• Developing a Driver Safety Program
• Emergency Preparedness Planning Half-day Workshop
• Effective Safety Teams Half-Day Workshop
• Measuring Safety Performance
• Hazwoper Waste Operations and Emergency Response Refresher
• Electrical Safety Maintenance (NFPA 70B) – Practices for Electrical Equipment Maintenance
• Confined Space and Assessment

Online E-Courses

• Bloodborne Pathogens, Developing a Safety Culture, OSHA Recordkeeping 101 and others

Additional information on all March distance learning, including registration, is found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact the staff member listed or dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

HazComm Training

BWC designed a new micro video training series to assist your hazard communication training. The four short videos each cover a topic on OSHA’s HazCom standard. The guide document contains a quiz for each video.  This can be a good tool to supplement and document this training.

Webinars are now presented live with continuing education & BWC discount program credits.

 BWC is hosting a webinar titled Office Ergonomics Tips for Teleworkers on Wednesday, February 17 (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.). This webinar will highlight ways to use household furniture and equipment for a home office ergonomic workstation and will provide tips for teleworkers to help them work more comfortably in their homes.

The webinar will be instructed by Dr. Delia Treaster, the BWC Ergonomic Technical Advisor for the Division of Safety & Hygiene.

Additional information, including registration instructions, can be found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Angel Johnson @ angel.j.1@bwc.state.oh.us.

Click HERE for additional information and to register

BWC is hosting a webinar on the subject of Reducing COVID-19 Transmission Through HVAC Improvements on Thursday, February 18 (10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.). This webinar provides valuable information for anyone interested in taking steps to improve their indoor air quality (IAQ) to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

Presenters from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will discuss a step-wise approach to assessing and managing IAQ and reducing COVID-19 transmission risks.

Additional information, including registration instructions, can be found in the attached flyer. Webinars qualify for IACET continuing education & BWC discount program credits.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Angel Johnson at Angel.J.1@bwc.state.oh.us

Click HERE for additional details and to register

BWC Safety Update - February 2021

Click HERE to view February's Safety Update

The Greater Cincinnati Safety Council has graciously extended a statewide invitation for safety council members to participate in their Wednesday, February 10 meeting @ 2:30 p.m. with BWC’s Interim Administrator/CEO John Logue.

Seating is limited to the first 500 registrants. Those interested in attending can register using the Zoom Meeting Registration link in the flyer below.

Safety Congress Registration Now Open 

Registration is now open for the 2021 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo (OSC21)! Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, OSC21 will be a completely online event, including our first-ever digital expo.

Visit the OSC21 website for more information and to register for the event, which will stream live March 10-11, 2021. Now in its 91^st year, the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo is the largest and longest-running regional occupational safety, health and workers’ compensation conference in the U.S.

More than 4.000 representatives from Ohio businesses and government are expected to attend the event to discover the strategies and tools needed for a healthy, safe, and productive workforce. The event offers topics on organizational behavior, safety leadership, emerging trends, and mental health. Participants can visit the digital expo marketplace, compete in a scavenger hunt, download resources, earn attendance credit and chat with others.

Register today, invite your colleagues and tag us @OhioBWC #OSC21. We’ll see you online for OSC21!

BWC is hosting a webinar titled Are You a Hazmat Employer? What to Know to Stay in Compliance on Tuesday, January 26 (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.). This webinar will focus on the Department of Transportation’s training requirements for shipping, receiving, handling and labeling of hazardous materials.

The webinar will be instructed by Ben Hissam, an Industrial Safety Consultant in BWC’s Cincinnati Service Office.

Additional information, including registration instructions, can be found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Kaylee Blevings at Kaylee.b.1@bwc.state.oh.us

FREE BWC Webinars & Virtual Classes - December 2020

Click HERE to view the Schedule

Update on safety council rebate for fiscal year 2020 

Dear Safety Council Members, 

Many of you qualified for the fiscal year 2020 (FY20) safety council rebate as a result of your active participation in the program from July 2019 through February 2020 before we announced the COVID-19 program waiver in April.

We have taken extra steps to provide financial relief to Ohio’s employer community during the ongoing pandemic, including a $1.54 billion dividend in April and a $1.34 billion dividend last month. The latest dividend represents 100% of billed premium for eligible employers for the time frame on which we would have calculated a FY20 safety council rebate. Because of this, there will be no FY20 safety council rebate.

As a reminder, many Ohio safety councils are providing ongoing safety education and networking through virtual monthly meetings. We hope you are taking advantage and benefiting from this resource. Also, we remain committed to assisting Ohio employers with their accident prevention needs during the pandemic. To learn more about our services, please visit www.bwc.ohio.gov.

For the latest information on COVID-19 in Ohio, visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov. For questions about COVID-19 as it relates BWC, please email BWCCOVID19@bwc.state.oh.us.

Thank you for all you do to keep Ohio’s employers and workforce safe and healthy.

Michelle Francisco

BWC Safety Council Program Manager  

Free BWC Webinars & Virtual Classes - November 2020

BWC is hosting a number of occupational safety and health webinars and virtual classes in November including:

                Weekly Webinars -

• Combustible Dust Hazard Analysis – What Is It & How Can You Prepare for It?
• “Selling Safety” and Why It’s Important (Replay)
• Stress: Learning Today for Better Tomorrow
• Hearing Conservation Program (Replay)

Live Webinar

• What would you do? Can we rely on Common Sense?               

Virtual classes -

• Accident Analysis
• Hazard Communication Half-day Workshop
• Electrical Basics
• Lockout/Tagout and Safety-related Work Practices

Additional information on all November distance learning, including registration, is found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact the staff member listed or dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

BWC introduces virtual classes beginning October 1

To provide Ohio employers with free training opportunities, continuing education and BWC discount program credits during the COVID-19 pandemic, BWC will begin offering a limited number of classes virtually in October.

These classes will provide live, interactive education along with all of the same benefits of previously scheduled classroom courses cancelled through the end of the 2020.

This flyer provides additional information including system requirements, necessary student completion tasks, and registration information. If you have questions, email dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

Free BWC Webinar - Real Fire Hazards - Tuesday, September 22

BWC is hosting a webinar titled What’s Wrong with That? A Look at Real Fire Hazards on Tuesday, September 22 (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.). Instructed by the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal, the webinar will include many visual examples of fire code violations from recent inspections and will focus on kitchens, exit ways, common areas, facility maintenance, and system control areas.

This webinar will be instructed by Steve Waltman, a Fire and Life Safety Educator with the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal.

Additional information, including registration instructions, can be found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Kaylee Blevings at Kaylee.b.1@bwc.state.oh.us

2020-2021 Virtual Safety Council

Meeting Dates & Topic Schedule

This fiscal year (FY21) BWC requires all safety council meetings to be virtual meetings. Warren County Safety Council will host all virtual meetings using Zoom. The monthly meetings will be recorded each month, and can be found on our website. 

**Be sure to login for the meetings 15-20mins early to make sure you do not have any technical problems**

August 21st: Understanding COVID 

COVID-19 Basics PowerPoint Slideshow 

(presented by Janette Weisbrodt)

COVID-19 Basics Zoom Video Recording

September 18th: DSH Services

October 16th: Mental Issues in the Work Place

Stress Management PowerPoint Slideshow

November 20th: Distracted Drivers

Sergeant Hayes Distracted Driving Power Point

December 18th: Impact of Substance Abuse During these Trying Times

COVID-19 Increased Substance Use Presentation

January 15th: OSHA Updates

February 19th: Bloodborne Pathogen Trainings

                                              Bloodborne Pathogen Training Zoom Video

March 19th: Prevention of Insect Borne Disease

Prevention of Insect Borne Disease Zoom Meeting

with Mike Wedding with Scherzinger

April 16th: Work Zone Awareness

May 21st: Electrical Safety Training

June 18th: Substance Abuse in the Work Place

PowerPoint Presentation

Local Resource Guide for Warren County Residents:

https://www.co.warren.oh.us/humanservices/GenInfo/ResourceGuidePrintable.pdf

 Local Mental Health & Recovery Board Websites

Warren & Clinton Counties: https://www.mhrbwcc.org/home/

 Links for sources of Data found in Presentation & other useful tools:

https://udsmapper.org/

http://grc.osu.edu/OMAS

http://www.dtidrugmap.com/?&_ga=2.29382391.955460720.1622731323-1714400461.1622731323#/all/2020

 Local Health Needs Assessments:

Warren County Health Assessment: https://warrenchd.com/about/community-health-assessment

If you are unfamiliar with how to use Zoom, be sure to check out the links below to help guide you through the process. 

How to Use Zoom: 

First Steps with Zoom:

1. Set-up a zoom account (it is free to sign up) Click HERE to sign up
2. You can also download the Zoom app on your smartphone too. 

Click on the links below for tutorials on how to use Zoom

1. How to Join a Meeting for the First Time

2. How to Join a Zoom Meeting by phone

3. How to present on Zoom

4. Understanding how to use Zoom Meeting Controls

BWC's Monthly Safety Updates Can Be Found Here

To Check Out These Safety Updates Click HERE

BWC's Upcoming August Webinar Series

Be sure to check out the great webinar series that BWC will be offering during August. Click HERE to check it out!

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Kaylee Blevings at Kaylee.b.1@bwc.state.oh.us

TriHealth Occupational Medicine - Arrow Springs

Now Open to Serve your Company and Employees

BWC is hosting a webinar titled Safe Patient Handling: Is Your Facility Following the Guidelines? CLICK HERE for more information.

July's Safety Update - Ohio BWC Library Click Here

Important Notice: 

Semi-Annual Reports Will NOT Be Collected at this time

**We will not be collecting Semi-Annual Reports at this time (per BWC's direction). When BWC gives us further instructions on collecting these reports, we will be sure to reach out to you all. 

Please let us know if you have any questions at all. 

BWC is hosting a Precision OSHA Recordkeeping Webinar on Tuesday, June 30 (11am - 12pm). Primary focus of the lecture will be determination of recordability to ensure accurate records are maintained.

This webinar will be instructed by Brian Zachetti, a safety consulatnt specialist in BWC's Youngstown Service Office.

Additional Information, including registration instructions, can be found in the attached flyer.

Click Here to Register

BWC is hosting a webinar titled Accident Analysis - Why should I do it? on Thursday, June 25 (1 to 2 PM). The webinar will explain basic elements of a written accident analysis program, the primary casual factor of accidents, and action steps that can be taken in an analyzing accident.

For more information or to register, CLICK HERE

Click Here for July Webinar Series

BWC is hosting a webinar titles Accident Analyses - Why should I do it? on Thursday, June25 (1 to 2 pm). The webinar will expain basic elements of a written accident analysis program, the primary casual factors of accidents, and action steps that can be taken in an analyzing accident. 

This webinar will be instructed by Lisa Houston, an industrial safety consultant specialist in BWC's Columbus Service Office.

Additional information, including registration instructions, can be found in the attached flyer.

For more information or to register, Click Here

Click Here to Register

BWC is hosting a webinar titled Before You Hire that Contractor: Groundwork to Reduce Safety Risks on Thursday, June 18 (1 to 2 pm). The webinar covers the areas for consideration for hiring a contractor during the various phases of the contractor selection, management, and evaluation process to aid in safety risk reduction.

This webinar will be instructed by Mary Beth Holley, a safety consultant in BWC’s Cincinnati Service Office.

Additional information, including registration instructions, can be found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Kaylee Blevings at Kaylee.b.1@bwc.state.oh.us

Developing an Effective Ergonomics Management Process Webinar

Click Here to Register!

June 2020's Safety Update Newsletter

Click Here to check out June's Safety Update Newsletter!

Division of Safety & Hygiene's June Webinars

BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene (DSH) is offering a series of free webinars covering a variety of workplace safety topics throughout June. Below is a listing of dates and topics. 

• June 4 – Selling Safety and Why It’s Important

• June 11 – Developing an Effective Ergonomics Management Process

• June 18 – Before You Hire That Contractor – Groundwork to Reduce Safety Risks

• June 25 – Accident Analysis – Why Should I Do It? 

DSH safety experts who are well-versed in the topic they are presenting conduct the webinars. Each webinar lasts about one hour.

Learn more and register for any of the June webinars here.   

Helpful Mask Information from TriHealth

BWC is hosting a Emergency Action Plan webinar on Thursday, May 28 (1:30 to 2:30 pm). The webinar will identify the key elements of an emergency action plan.

 Check out the flyer for this webinar HERE

This webinar will be instructed by Lisa Houston, an industrial safety consultant specialist in BWC’s Columbus Service Office.

Additional information, including registration instructions, can be found HERE

For more information or assistance when registering, contact BWC’s Kaylee Blevings at Kaylee.b.1@bwc.state.oh.us

Free Webinar on May 21st!

Reducing Amputation Hazards Flyer

May Safety Update

Trenching Safety webinar 

BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene is offering a Trenching Safety webinar May 4 at 3:30 p.m. The two-hour webinar provides an overview on identifying risk factors related to trenching and excavation sites. Learn more and register here. Additionally, our Trench Safety Ohio website provides resources and information on safe trenching work practices.  

Ohio BWC News

Safety Council Rebate Program Update Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, we directed the cancellation of safety council meetings for March through June 2020. As a result, it is not possible for many members to complete the Safety Council Rebate Program’s FY20 eligibility requirements. Therefore, we will award the FY20 rebate to rebate-eligible safety council members who, as of Feb. 29, 2020, had attended at least FOUR safety council meetings based on safety council sponsors’ records. We also have waived the program’s CEO attendance and calendar year 2019 semi-annual report requirements. For more information, visit the Safety Councils webpage.

OSHA News

New Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Documents • COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Workers: This OSHA Alert lists safety tips to help protect retail workers from exposure to COVID-19. It is available in English and Spanish. • COVID-19 Guidance for the Package Delivery Workforce: This OSHA Alert lists safety tips to protect package delivery workers from exposure to COVID-19. It is available in English and Spanish. • Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus: This OSHA safety poster highlights infection prevention measures all workplaces can take to protect workers from COVID-19. It is available in English and Spanish. • Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19: This OSHA document is available in English and Spanish.

Other News

List of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a list of disinfectant products that meet the criteria to disinfect against the virus that causes COVID-19. The list can be downloaded as a CSV or PDF file. It includes the product name, active ingredients, and the amount of time the surface should be treated.

NIOSH/CDC News

Worker Health Charts NIOSH Worker Health Charts on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) website use worker data from NIOSH and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Users can create charts to discover trends in workplace injuries, illness, and deaths. The data is broken out by exposures, health and safety behaviors, health status, and more. 

Health Hazard Evaluations NIOSH staff perform health hazard evaluations at businesses based on employee requests. Hazards reviewed can include chemicals, particulates, noise, radiation, biological agents, ergonomics, heat, and stress. Users can access reports from these evaluations, which include recommendations for abatement of hazards, on the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations website.

Teleworking Safety Working safely from home is important. The federal website Telework.gov provides a safety checklist for teleworking.

Virtual Reality and Safety Training This article from Safety+Health magazine describes benefits and concerns around the use of virtual reality in safety training. The benefits include better memory retention, the ability to train on equipment that is not typically available, and the ability to train on a dangerous piece of equipment before use in the real world. The concerns include actual physical hazards, motion sickness, and costs of equipment. 

Mining Deaths The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported 2019 had the second lowest number of deaths in the mining industry since the data was recorded. There were 15 metal/nonmetal miners and 12 coal miner deaths. 

MSHA Safety Alert MSHA issued a Safety Alert in response to several deaths in the mining industry caused by damaged or defective welds on aerial lifts. The alert contains best practices for welding and inspections of equipment for damage or defects.

Ladder Safety Training The American Ladder Institute has free ladder safety training you can take from its website. Learn proper selection, care, and safe use of all types of ladders, including stepladders, single and extension ladders, articulated ladders, and mobile ladders. Simply register for an account, select the ladder type, and watch the video. There is a test with each video.

Welding Safety Training and Documents The American Welding Society (AWS) has free welding safety training available on its website. There are 10 modules ideal for anyone engaged in welding, cutting, brazing, or soldering. Also available from the site is the American National Safety Institute Z49.1 Safety in Welding Standard and AWS welding safety fact sheets.

Railroad Crossing Safety Video This new video from the non-profit rail safety education organization Operation Lifesaver shows drivers of cement, dump, and garbage trucks how to safely navigate railroad crossings along their routes to avoid tragedy at the tracks.

CPWR Data Bulletin The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) issued a new data series for construction. CPWR issues the Data Bulletin six times per year. The inaugural edition has information on health insurance coverage in the construction industry. The data indicate that one in four construction workers does not have health insurance coverage.

New Chemical Safety Board Animation The U.S. Chemical Safety Board released an updated animation of the events at the BP America Refinery in Texas City, Texas, when a massive hydrocarbon release and ensuing explosion and fire killed 15 and injured 180 others. The board announced a forthcoming interactive training application based on this event that uses this animation.

Please contact the library@bwc.state.oh.us or 614-466-7388 for more information on any of these items.

Dear Safety Council Rebate Program Participants,

We thank you for your patience as we’ve determined how to proceed with the FY20 Safety Council Rebate Program in the midst of COVID-19.

As you know, we directed safety council sponsors to cancel March, April, and May safety council meetings in light of public health concerns. And today’s announcement will eliminate the need for sponsors to host a June meeting. As a result of these cancellations, we realize it is impossible for many of you to complete the program’s FY20 rebate eligibility requirements.

Therefore, we will provide the FY20 rebate to safety council members who, as of Feb. 29, 2020, had attended at least FOUR safety council meetings. This determination was based on crediting each member with one meeting credit for each cancelled meeting, the maximum of two external training credits and waiving the CEO attendance and calendar year 2019 semi-annual report requirements. 

Although we realize a small number of safety councils host more than one meeting a month late in the program year, we are granting relief for only one safety council meeting credit per month in March, April, May, and June. This resolution reinforces the program’s goal of active participation for the purpose of education, networking and resource sharing and, unfortunately, members who condense participation to the latter part of the program year will not appreciate relief from this solution.

Ultimately, employers we determine have earned the rebate under the revised guidelines will receive the maximum percentage rebate allowed per their BWC group-rating status:

• 2% for employers enrolled in BWC’s Group-Retrospective-Rating Program and eligible for the participation rebate.
• 2% for employers enrolled in BWC’s Group-Experience-Rating Program and eligible for the performance bonus - there will be no claims data measurement calculation.
• 4% for employers not enrolled in a BWC Group-Rating Program. 

Your safety council sponsor will submit July 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020 attendance records to us when normal business operations resume. The timeline for the processing of these rebates is yet to be determined but we will continue to update safety council sponsors when you should expect FY20 safety council program rebate checks.

Our most sincere interest is the health, wellness and safety of Ohio’s workforce. Be safe and take care.

Michelle Francisco

BWC Safety Council Program Manager 

Portions of this message may be confidential under an exemption to Ohio's public records law or under a legal privilege. If you have received this message in error or due to an unauthorized transmission or interception, please delete all copies from your system without disclosing, copying, or transmitting this message.

Ohio and COVID-19 With the state’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continuing, Governor Mike DeWine is asking for Ohio citizens and businesses who can donate personal protective equipment (PPE), or any other essential service or resource, to email Together@Governor.Ohio.Gov. 

See the list for the most-needed PPE. Thank you for your consideration. We’re #InThisTogetherOhio.  

Remember, for the latest updates on COVID-19 in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov. For updates from the federal government, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

To our customers, stakeholders, partners and interested parties:

We're announcing that public and private employer insurance premium installment payments due for March, April and May for the current policy year may be deferred until June 1, 2020. See our updated FAQs document for details.

For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19) visit coronavirus.ohio.gov. For questions about COVID-19’s effect on BWC, you can email BWCCOVID19@bwc.state.oh.us. 

Ohio BWC News

Better You, Better Ohio!® webinars for employers

At BWC, we take our mission to take care of Ohio’s workforce seriously. That’s why we’re offering Better You, Better Ohio!® – a program that provides health and wellness resources and services to workers who work for small employers (150 or fewer workers) in certain industries. The program is designed to help both workers and their employers at no cost and through a simple, paperless process. Register here for the March 12, 2020, webinar starting at 9:30 a.m. or the March 25, 2020, webinar starting at 1:30 p.m. to learn how your employees can get healthier and be eligible for up to $175 in financial incentives.

Fleet Safety Toolkit

We created this Fleet Safety Toolkit to help employers develop and implement a fleet safety program to keep their employees safe while driving, on and off the job. The toolkit includes tips and resources related to the four components of an effective fleet safety program.

Time’s running out to register!

Don’t miss the largest FREE work-safety event in the U.S., happening March 11-13 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. • Choose from a catalog of 200 educational sessions.  • Browse more than 300 exhibitors in the Expo Marketplace. • Earn free continuing education credits. • Build your workplace safety network.

Register today at www.ohiosafetycongress.com.

Coronavirus News

New Coronavirus Disease Website

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released a webpage to highlight resources available for the protection of workers from the Coronavirus COVID-19. This page provides a centralized resource for new guidance and recommendations produced during the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 response, as well as pre-existing resources and materials, to promote the safety and health of workers.

COVID-19 Information

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a website with information on the Coronavirus COVID-19. The site has links to existing OSHA standards that apply for protecting workers, hazard recognition information, control and prevention links, and medical information.

Coronavirus Video

The World Health Organization has a video on coronaviruses and the current novel virus outbreak. Learn the basics about this family of infectious viruses.

Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 website

The Ohio Department of health has developed a COVID-19 website that includes updates, prevention tips, resources for health-care workers, and much more all in one location. 

OSHA News

Update to the Silica National Emphasis Program

OSHA issued an updated document, National Emphasis Program–Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), effective Feb. 4, 2020. The goal is to significantly reduce or eliminate worker exposures to RCS and control the health hazards associated with such exposures. OSHA made updates to the list of target industries, current enforcement guidance, and other sections.

New Hazard Warning - Grease Trap Hazards

This Hazard Warning advises employers and employees of the hazards of tripping or falling into grease traps. The document outlines the dangers of grease traps and applicable regulations.

Other News

Fall Protection Webinar

Get ready for the March Safety Stand Down to Prevent Falls by attending a free webinar presented by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) at 2 p.m. March 4. A group of presenters from the Z359 accreditation committee will present information on the standard, including any pending changes and information to assist you in improving your fall protection program.

CPWR Report on Opioids

The most recent CPWR Quarterly Data Report looks at opioid use in construction. The report reviews a dataset of workers who died on a worksite and the number of opioids prescribed to construction workers. 

Exercise How-tos

We know we are supposed to exercise to keep ourselves strong and active, but do we know how to exercise? For some good video tips on warmups, sample workouts, and cool downs visit the Go4Life website from the National Institute on Aging.

2020 The Year of the Eye

The American Academy of Ophthalmology declared 2020 the Year of the Eye. Who doesn’t wish for 20/20 vision? Here are several tips from the academy to keep your eyes safe at home, work, and when you are out and about. From pregnancy to your golden years, there are tips for your healthy eyes.

If You Don’t Feel Well, Don’t Make it Your Farewell

The International Association of Fire Chiefs launched an initiative with the goal of elimination of fatal cardiac events in firefighters. The campaign website has a video along with sample policies, training and media tools, and research that fire departments can use to keep firefighters healthy on the job.

Fatal Occupational Injuries to Older Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics analyzed data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries from 1992 to 2017 for fatalities to workers 55 to 64 and 65 and older. The fatality rates for both groups were higher than the rate for all workers. The results of this analysis were published in the Bureau’s Monthly Labor Review. 

Please contact the library@bwc.state.oh.us or 614-466-7388 for more information on any of these items.

Safety Update Ohio BWC Library

Ohio BWC News

In a newly published article in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, researchers from BWC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) examined more than 1.3 million workers’ compensation claims from the years 2001 to 2013 to compare injury rates between temporary and permanent workers. The results showed temporary workers had higher overall injury rates than permanent workers when controlled for industry manual class. For more information on this article, please email the BWC Library.

BWC unveils new trenching safety grants and website BWC is launching a new $2 million safety grant program to assist employers in purchasing equipment to protect their workers while working in trenching and excavating situations.

BWC’s Trench Safety Grant program provides 4-to-1 matching funds, up to $12,000, to Ohio private and public employers covered by the State Insurance Fund who wish to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with trenching and excavation.

The grant funds can assist employers in purchasing safety equipment, such as trench boxes and hydraulic shoring. Along with the grant, BWC will provide training and educational materials for employers to share with their employees on basic requirements of trench safety.   

Finally, BWC has launched a website, trenchsafetyohio.com, that includes links to trenching safety information and tips, training, and publications.

NIOSH/CDC News

Fatigue Website Updated NIOSH updated the materials on their website, Driver Fatigue on the Job. The page has social media images, fact sheets, and risk reduction tips.

OSHA News

Corrections to Walking-Working Surfaces and Other Standards The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued corrections to three standards in December 2019. Corrections were made to ladders, stairways, other walking-working surface standards, fall protection systems, and electric power generation standards.

Injury Reporting A reminder to employers that your 2019 Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300A) must be posted from Feb. 1 through April 30 each year. Recordkeeping information is found on the OSHA website.

Other News

Overdose Fatalities at Worksites and Opioid Use in the Construction Industry The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) Quarterly Report for the fourth quarter 2019 discusses issues around opioids and the construction industry. Key findings from the research include an increase in fatalities from 2011 to 2018, a higher rate of opioid use by work-related injured workers, and higher rates of prescribed opioids amongst older workers versus illicit use among younger ones.

Suicide Prevention Resources Suicide rates are up in the U.S., particularly amongst construction workers. CPWR has a page of links to resources for suicide prevention. Use these valuable resources to start a conversation, or if someone you know needs immediate help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use the online Lifeline Chat.

2018 Costly for Fires The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released its annual report on fire losses for the year 2018. There were 36 large-loss fires in 2018 with losses of more than $12.91 billion. The largest losses came from fires in California. Total losses for 2018 from 1.3 million fires was $25.6 billion.

Construction and Extraction Workers at Risk for Drug Use A study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence finds that workers in the construction and extraction trades are more likely to misuse several classes of drugs. Drug misuse was associated with higher rates of absenteeism; however, written policies and workplace drug testing had a positive impact on drug use prevention.

New Ideas on Exit Signage This National Fire Protection Journal article on a new approach to emergency exit signs describes the idea of “dynamic signage,” which are signs that can respond to emergencies in an active manner, such as pointing out the best exit. This exit sign strategy is likely to be part of the 2021 update to the NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, according to the article’s author.

Safety and Health at Work 2020 An international conference on Safety and Health will be held not too far from Ohio. Toronto will be host to the XXII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in October 2020. The event includes technical and poster sessions, a young worker spotlight, and an international expo.

Dataset Search Google has created a search engine for datasets giving you a single place to search for datasets and find links to the data. So far, they have indexed 25 million datasets and recently added filters that allow you to search for the type of dataset and usage rights. Google reports that the largest topics currently covered are geosciences, biology, and agriculture.

Guide to Federal Rulemaking If you run a small business, federal rules impact how you do business. Do you understand the rulemaking process and how you can participate? If not, this guidance document from the U.S. Small Business Administration can help. The document outlines the rulemaking process and provides guidance on how to comment effectively.

Winter Safety It’s getting cold outside and the National Safety Council has some winter safety tips to keep you safe. Included are tips on safe driving, avoiding shoveling and snowblowing injuries, frostbite treatment, carbon monoxide poisoning prevention, and more. Plus, don’t forget these: NIOSH Preventing Cold-related Illness, Injury, and Death among Workers and OSHA Alert: Working Safety in Cold Weather publications for workplace winter safety.

Methylene Chloride Banned for Consumer Use The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prohibited the manufacture, processing, and distribution of methylene chloride (MEK) in all paint removers for consumer use after Nov. 22, 2019. It is now unlawful for any person or retailer to sell or distribute paint removal products containing methylene chloride for consumer use, including e-commerce sales.

Please contact the library@bwc.state.oh.us or 614-466-7388 for more information on any of these items.

Deadline for Safety Grant applications approaches

COLUMBUS — Ohio employers seeking grants from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation to invest in safety measures have until March 31 to apply for funds in this year’s fiscal budget.

Employers who miss that deadline must wait until July 1, the first day to apply for fiscal 2021 funding under BWC’s popular Safety Grants program.

“We appreciate Ohio employers who take safety seriously and seek our assistance funding equipment aimed at reducing or eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud.

Applications for fiscal 2020 funds via U.S. mail must be postmarked no later than March 31. The online application service will close after March 31 and not re-open until July 1, the first day of fiscal year 2021.

BWC offers $20 million a year in safety grants. As of Jan. 3, BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene had approved 616 grant requests. Another 304 were pending.

The March 31 deadline applies to the following grants:

• Safety Intervention  
• Employers Working with Persons with Developmental Disabilities
• Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements
• School Safety and Security
• Workplace Wellness

Safety Grants are available to all Ohio state-fund, private and public taxing district employers to purchase equipment to eliminate or reduce workplace hazards.

You can find more information on our Safety Grants program on our website.

Allied Construction Industries is sponsoring its annual 21^st Annual Safety Day on Tuesday, February 4 at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Safety Day features programming for the region’s construction, general contractors and subs and safety & health staff along with keynote presentations from Dr. Tim Ludwig and Blaine Hoffman. 

Registration is open to all area employers. The registration fee includes lunch and access to the Expo Hall ranging from $155-175.

Attendance at this event qualifies for one safety council rebate program external training credit with submission of a certificate of attendance to your safety council sponsor by June 30, 2020.

Full conference details and registration is available on the Allied Construction Industries (ACI) website. For more information call ACI at 1-513-221-8020.

Ohio BWC News

Safety Innovation Awards Semifinalists Announced

We’re pleased to announce the semifinalists for our 2020 Safety Innovation Awards! Between July and September, we received 70 total applications, including 46 that met all the eligibility requirements. After tallying the composite scores, we identified these top-scoring 11 applications as the 2020 semifinalists.

• Carmichael Machine Corp. - Springfield

• Clark Grave Vault Company - Columbus

• Diversified Fall Protection - Westlake

• Fort Amanda Specialties - Lima

• Keller Trucking - Defiance

• Mansfield Plumbing Products - Perrysville

• Mt. Vernon City Schools - Mt. Vernon

• Terydon, Inc. - Navarre

• TFO Tech Co., LTD - Jeffersonville

• Thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America - Hamilton

• Washing systems LLC (dba WSI)

Safety Congress Registration Now Open  Registration is now open for the 2020 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo (OSC 2020)! Visit the OSC 2020 website to view a full listing of course descriptions and to register for the event, which takes place March 11-13 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Now in its 90th year, OSC 2020 is the largest and longest-running regional occupational safety, health and workers’ compensation conference in the U.S. 

Last year, more than 8,000 representatives from Ohio businesses and government attended the event to discover the strategies and tools needed for a healthy, safe, and productive workforce.

The five semifinalists with the highest scores will advance and be featured at the 2020 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo (OSC 2020), where an independent (non-BWC) panel of judges will determine their ultimate placement — first place through honorable mention with associated cash awards. The finalists will also be eligible for the People’s Choice award as determined by OSC 2020 attendee voting.

Better You, Better Ohio!® Webinars for Employers

At BWC, we take our mission to take care of Ohio’s workforce seriously. That’s why we’re offering Better You, Better Ohio!® – a program that provides health and wellness resources and services to workers who work for small employers (150 or fewer workers) in certain industries. The program is designed to help both workers and their employers at no cost and through a simple, paperless process. Register here for the Jan. 15, 2020, webinar starting at 9:30 a.m. or the Jan. 28, 2020, webinar starting at 1:30 p.m. to learn how your employees can get healthier and be eligible for up to $175 in financial incentives.

NIOSH/CDC News

Mast Climbing Inspection Tool

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) created an inspection tool for mast climbers. The walkthrough program shows common inspection points on this equipment and what to look for in each area.

Hard Hat Anniversary

The December issue of NIOSH eNews includes an article on the 100th anniversary of the invention of the hard hat. 

OSHA News

Rise in At-Work Suicides

The rate of suicide at work increased by 11% in 2018. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created a new Preventing Suicide webpage with links to suicide prevention phone numbers and online chat. The page has poster graphics for these services and links to other assistance websites.

Regulatory Error Correction

OSHA published a notice in the December 17, 2019 Federal Register to correct errors and clarify requirements in the Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment standards. The corrections clarify height of ladder side rails, exclusion of coverage for articulated stairs, proof testing of snaphooks, carabiners, and D-rings, and several typographical errors.

Headphone Use on Construction Sites

A recent letter of interpretation from OSHA regarding Standard 1926.52 and 1926.101 confirms that there are no OSHA regulations that prohibit the use of headphones on a construction site but cautions that struck-by hazards are one of the four leading causes of death at construction sites and listening to music can cover up sounds that alert workers to danger. 

Other News

Material Handling Injury Prevention

The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) recently added resources to the Best Built Plans (BBP) program. CPWR designed the program to reduce the risks for soft tissue injuries from manual material handling by providing contractors with resources at each project stage to use on the job to raise awareness and reinforce safe practices. New items include an app version of the planning and interactive training resources, a Spanish version of the planning tool, and a video on how to use the program.

Risks for Vaping Product Associated Lung Injuries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on a public survey from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. IDPH conducted an online public survey during September–October 2019 targeting e-cigarette or vaping product users in Illinois. The CDC said: “The findings in this report reinforce current recommendations that persons should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC, or any e-cigarette, or vaping, products obtained from informal sources such as off the street, from a dealer, or from a friend. In addition, because the specific compound or ingredient causing lung injury is not yet known, the CDC continues to recommend that persons consider refraining from use of all e-cigarette or vaping products while the outbreak investigation continues.”

Work Zone Safety

CPWR has a set of resources to prevent struck-by injuries in construction work zones. Struck-by hazards are a leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in construction. This webpage contains material from a variety of sources and includes fatality reports and videos from NIOSH, OSHA resources, toolbox talks, handouts, and links to research.

Focus on the Drive Newsletter

The National Safety Council’s Focus on the Drive quarterly newsletter provides tips on driving and information on the latest driving research. You can read the latest issue here and sign up for an email notice of new issues here.

Hand and Arm Vibration Tool

Great Britain’s Health and Safety Executive updated their hand/arm vibration calculator. This Microsoft Excelbased tool is used to calculate exposures. Also included with the tool are a guidance document on the issues of vibration and a guide to the use of the calculator.

Safe Loading Docks

The Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers industry group wrote a Dock Planning 101 guidance document to assist in the basic design of loading docks. Users can download the guide after creating a free account on the Material Handling Industry website.

Please contact the library@bwc.state.oh.us or 614-466-7388 for more information on any of these items.

The Ohio State University and the Columbus OSHA Office, in conjunction with the Central Ohio American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) present OSHA Safety Day 2020, scheduled on February 13 at The Ohio State University Fawcett Center. This year’s event features a four-hour trenching & excavation training option. Registration for this day-long event is $75.

Attendance at this event qualifies for one safety council rebate program external training credit with submission of a certificate of attendance to your safety council sponsor by June 30, 2020. 

Full conference details are attached. For more information email oshaosusafetyday@gmail.com

Portions of this message may be confidential under an exemption to Ohio's public records law or under a legal privilege. If you have received this message in error or due to an unauthorized transmission or interception, please delete all copies from your system without disclosing, copying, or transmitting this message.

Below are some sites that offer good information on working in cold weather. 

OSHA has a good site for Winter Weather, “Plan. Equip. Train.”  https://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/winter_weather/  .

OSHA has a Cold Stress Guide, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/cold.html .

CPWR has Toolbox Talks and Infographics for protecting yourself from the cold.  https://www.cpwr.com/research/working-in-cold-weather/winter-safety-infographics .

CPWR has “Working In Cold Weather – A Chilling Danger” Hazard Alert. https://www.cpwr.com/sites/default/files/publications/Cold%20Weather%20Web%20HazAlert.pdf .

NIOSH has a page on Cold Stress, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/coldstress/default.html

NIOSH Protecting Yourself from Cold Stress. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-115/pdfs/2010-115.pdf

Portions of this message may be confidential under an exemption to Ohio's public records law or under a legal privilege. If you have received this message in error or due to an unauthorized transmission or interception, please delete all copies from your system without disclosing, copying, or transmitting this message.

NIOSH/CDC News

Driving Fatigue

A major cause of vehicle accidents is fatigued drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a website with information on this topic that includes an animated image, fact sheets, and tips for employers and workers to prevent fatigue on the job.

Winter Holiday Safety 

The winter holidays create unique safety risks. Holiday décor and candles can create fire risks, traveling in winter weather can be hazardous, food safety is important at holiday meals, and toy safety is important at giftgiving occasions. The National Fire Protection Association’s Winter Holidays website contains safety tip sheets and information on tree and decoration fires. The National Safety Council’s Holiday Safety website has travel, decoration, food, toy, and fire safety tips.

NIOSH eNews

The November 2019 issue of NIOSH eNews contains articles on National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month, abstracts of research performed by NIOSH researchers, links to new publications and blog posts, and a calendar of upcoming events. 

OSHA News

Holiday Workplace Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) webpage on holiday workplace safety in the merchandising sales sector contains links to information for order fulfilment, delivery, retail sales, and general employees.

Ionizing Radiation

If you work around sources of ionizing radiation such as radioactive materials or X-ray equipment, OSHA has a newly revised website on this topic. Find information on standards, health effects, hazard recognition, control and prevention, and additional resources.

Other News

New Toolbox Talks

The Center for Construction Research and Training released three new Toolbox Talks in English and Spanish on topics regarding nanoengineered materials, including:

• Identifying Nano-Enabled Construction Materials.

• Introduction: Nano-Enabled Construction Materials.

• Prevent Exposure: Nano-Enabled Construction Materials.

New Safety Podcast

Occupational Health and Safety Magazine has a new podcast called the OH&S SafetyPod, which plans to cover a variety of topics. The first episode discusses safety culture, and the second discusses effective safety training.

More Effective Safety Training

Looking for tips on how to create and deliver better safety training? This article from The American Society of Safety Professionals has four tips you can use. There is a link to a podcast on the subject as well.

Workplace Injury Data Released

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – 2018 report in early November. The report shows there were 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2018. This is the first year since 2012 that the total numbers and incident rate did not go down. Retail trade was the only sector with a rise in reportable cases.

Electrical Safety Alert

In the wake of three fatalities, the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued an Electrical Safety Alert. The alert describes the three incidents and provides tips on prevention of electrical accidents.

Safety Video Series

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work sponsors a video series featuring a character called Napo to educate workers on topics in safety and health. The videos are silent and so language-neutral. The most recent videos in the Napo series help employees understand musculoskeletal disease. 

Winter Safety

The National Safety Council issued a list of winter safety tips on topics such as winter driving, snow shoveling, and frostbite. Stay safe this winter!

Worker Health and Well-Being

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams published an article titled, The Value of Worker Well-Being in Public Health Reports, the official journal of the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service. The article describes how work can influence well-being and what strategies employers can take to improve employees’ happiness and wellness.

Please contact the library@bwc.state.oh.us or 614-466-7388 for more information on any of these items.

The Ohio BWC Library of BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene compiles and distributes this newsletter each month.

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Developing a Driver Safety Program Presentation

Presented by: Joe Koehl, BWC - Division of Safety & Hygiene 

Developing a Driver Safety Program Presentation: Click Here

BWC - Developing a Driver Safety Program:  Comparison of Resource Materials

(Updated 10-17-19)

 Oregon OSHA – Vehicle Safety Sample Plan

2019-2020 Safety Council

Meeting Dates & Topic Schedule

2019 Semi-Annual Report Application

2019's 1st Semi-Annual Report is due July 15, 2019

Click HERE to fill out your report

Be sure to email this report to info@lebanonchamber.org no later than July 15th in order for it to count towards FY19. 

Warren County Safety Council's

FY20 Enrollment Form

Click HERE to find your FY20 WC Safety Council Enrollment Form

May's Safety Council Meeting Information

Thank you Gail Erhardt for presenting at our May Safety Council Meeting. If you are interested in viewing her powerpoint from this presentation, Click Here

April's Safety Council Meeting Information

Special "thanks" to Bob Braun for presenting at our CEO Breakfast on April 19, 2019. If you are interested in viewing his powerpoint from this presenation, Click Here

FY19 Attendance Verification Spreadsheet

For the most updated attandance verification spreadsheet click HERE 

Warren County Safety Council CEO Breakfast

We hope you will join us and other CEOs and safety professionals to learn more about how Warren Safety Council can benefit your bottom line.  Bob Braun, Ohio BWC's Regional Business Development Manager - Southwest, will share about some new BWC initiatives and how Ohio is making a difference.

At this meeting, members of the WCSC enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast and have the opportunity to set some time aside to focus on safety, health and wellness in the workplace.

One of the requirements to qualify for the safety council rebate is to have your company's CEO or highest ranking officer attend at least one meeting.  Even if you have already fulfilled that requirement, join us for this special meeting. 

We encourage you to bring a guest who is not currently enrolled in an Ohio safety council to share this program and opportunity.  Enrollment deadline for Safety Year July 2019 to June 2020  is July 31 2019  so this is a perfect time to introduce what Ohio Safety Council can offer employers.

We hope to see you there!

Register Now!

Drug Awareness for Supervisors

Below you will find the link to Judith Gissy's presentation from the February Safety Council Meeting. 

Judith Gissy, Treatment Coordinator - TriHealth

judith_gissy@trihealth.com

Drug Awareness for Supervisors Presentation

2019 Safety Update Newsletters

 January's Newsletter

2018 Semi-Annual Report Application

2018's 2nd Semi-Annual Report is due January 15th. 

Click Here to fill out your report

Be sure to send your completed report to info@lebanonchamber.org by January 15, 2019

Click the link below to view your updated Saftey Council Meeting Attandance Report:

Attandance Report as of November 2018

Check out December's Safety Update News Letter

Warren County Safety Council Updates

The BWC Library creates a monthly ‘Safety Update’ for our safety staff’s professional knowledge and use at safety council meetings.

Check out December's Safety Updates

Monthly editions are available at bwc.ohio.gov under the drop down menu for Safety > Safety and Video Library > Safety newsletters.

Hearing Conservation Program Elements & Best Practices Presentation

Presented by: Cythia Cooper, CIH

OBWC Division of Safety & Hygiene

Click Here for the Presentation

Thousands of Ohio employers find value and workers’ compensation premium savings by actively participating in their local safety councils. 

Rebate Flyer

Rebate Fact Sheet

Enrollment Form

2018-2019 Meeting Schedule and Topic

Meets third Friday of each month

8:00-9:30 am

Countryside YMCA Event Center
1699 Deerfield Rd
Lebanon OH 45036