Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to apply to the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) Safety Intervention Grant Program and to, as necessary, execute agreements with and to accept grant funds from BWC for the purposes of improving workplace conditions and worker safety.
BWC regularly accepts applications for funding from its Safety Intervention Grant Program. The purpose of the Safety Intervention Grant Program is to gather information about the effectiveness of safety interventions so BWC may share the results with Ohio employers. The program is available to any Ohio state-fund or public employer who wishes to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with a particular task or operation. The program is designed to work and partner with Ohio employers to establish safety intervention best-practices for accident and injury prevention.
With the safety intervention grant, private and public employers are eligible for a 3-to-1 matching grant, up to a maximum of $40,000 for each eligibility cycle. In return, employers will submit to BWC quarterly data reports for two years, as well as a case study one year after the date of the intervention. BWC will use this information to determine the effectiveness of the intervention and share successes with other employers.
The Department of Public Service intends to apply for the BWC Safety Intervention Grant monies to replace and upgrade the air filtration system at its testing lab at 1800 E. 17th Avenue. The necessary equipment and related installation is estimated to cost approximately $51,000.00. This equipment will make the testing lab safer and more efficient by decreasing and/or eliminating the potential for injuries, illnesses, and property damage claims related to silica dust.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Safety Intervention Grant Program grant recipients are required to match one-third of awarded grant funds; howev...
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