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December is a good time to reflect on the past business year and plan for improvements in the new year. Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) reminds those in agricultural businesses this should include looking for ways to improve the safety of their operations.

For 2023, BWC has a variety of ways to work with your business to help improve safety, including a new offering for Safety Intervention Grants. Safety Intervention Grants are available to provide financial assistance toward the purchase of equipment to sustainably reduce or eliminate injuries and illness associated with a particular task or operation.

“We have a great opportunity for the agriculture industry to participate in our safety grants. We just recently reopened them,” said Bruce Loughner, technical advisor for the safety and hygiene division at BWC.

Loughner added that employers who can find a type of equipment that would eliminate repetitive motions and manual material handling will be well advised to apply for grant funds.

How does the application process work?

A new BWC Grant Management Portal simplifies the application process for those interested in applying. BWC has a 3 to 1 match, which means that BWC will provide $3 for every $1 of investment by the employer, up to $40,000. Employers will be eligible for up to an additional $40,000 in grant funds every three years. In addition, those who apply must meet the following criteria:

• Have a BWC policy number or account, and have maintained coverage for at least one year.
• Agree to safety reporting requirements in the first year.

How are agriculture industry businesses using this grant?

BWC encourages those in the agriculture industry to be creative in planning for the new year and focus on purchasing equipment that may improve the overall safety of their operations.

Several agricultural businesses have taken advantage of the Safety Intervention Grants to purchase items that not only make operations safer for workers but improve efficiencies and the quality of products being produced. Here is a sampling of items that past grant recipients have been able to purchase:

• Bale grabber system
• Chick-shell separator
• Robotic Boar mover
• Plastic bins (to replace heavier wooden crates) used to transport goods
• Self-propelled bulk loading harvesting aids
• Farm vehicle tarp systems for transporting items

To hear more about the Safety Intervention Grant opportunities available, listen to a recent interview with Bruce Loughner on Our Ohio Weekly.

BWC is committed to helping your business prevent accidents. If you would like to schedule a free safety consultation, contact your local BWC service office, call 800-644-6292, or submit a request online. Please have your BWC policy number ready. A safety consultant will contact you within two business days.

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. We’ve got you Covered.

Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Ohio, serving 249,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,600 employees and assets of approximately $25 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. For more, visit bwc.ohio.gov.