National Forklift Safety Day – June 14, 2022

By Rich Gaul, Safety Technical Advisor June 14, 2022 marks the ninth annual observance of National Forklift Safety Day. Forklift Safety Day was initiated by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) in June 2014 to gather experts and stakeholders to focus on enhancing the safety of forklift operators and those who work around forklifts. This day …

BWC Offers a Variety of Online Safety Training

By Ford Sledge, BWC Employer Training Center Manager If your organization is looking for opportunities for professional development, why not consider online training? BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene offers a variety of training options to meet the varying needs of your business. Although in-person training isn’t currently offered, our online options provide the highest …

March is National Ladder Safety Month

By Mike Marr, Safety Technical Resources Consultant Over the past few years BWC has promoted National Ladder Safety Month to promote ladder safety and help people recognize what causes ladder accidents. We want to help workers recognize unsafe practices when it comes to ladder use. The American Ladder Institute, along with many other organizations like …

Winter is coming! Protect your workers from icy perils

By Rich Gaul, BWC Safety Technical Adviser Winter is right around the corner. Are you and your employees ready for the harsh conditions of the season? Taking some simple steps can help protect your employees from ailments caused by exposure to low temperatures, wind, and moisture. The two primary health risks in cold weather are …

Suicide Prevention: Don’t be too tough to talk about it

By Mona Weiss, Industrial Safety Consultant Specialist, BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene If you’ve never experienced a late-night emergency phone call, I can tell you from my experience, over twenty years ago, it’s something one won’t soon forget. Sadly, we’ve all likely had at least one of “those kinds of calls.” Mine came from …

New facilities eligible for indoor air quality funding

**As of August 6, the deadline for the COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program has been extended to October 15, 2021. ** Over the past year, we’ve learned a lot about COVID-19, including the impact indoor air quality (IAQ) has on the spread of COVID-19. That’s why we’re so proud to offer the COVID-19 Indoor …

My experience in BWC’s Safety Leaders Fellowship Program

By Meleesha Hodge, BWC Occupational Safety & Hygiene Fellow After graduating from the University of Cincinnati in 2018, I struggled to figure out what career path was right for me. I had obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences but did not have much experience in that field. I knew to thrive in …

BWC safety grants protect worker health, save employers time, money

NIOSH-BWC study published in industry journal By Steve Naber, Ph.D., BWC Business Intelligence and Analytics Manager For more than 10 years, our Division of Safety & Hygiene has enjoyed the benefits of being in a cooperative research program with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Through the program, we share claims with …

BWC nurse battles COVID-19 on front lines

May is National Nurses Month. BWC nurse tells her story. By Jennifer Wolford RN, Medical Service Specialist, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Away from my BWC job as a medical service specialist, I work as an intermittent nurse in an emergency department (ED) at an Akron-area hospital on weekends. Since the community spread of COVID-19 …

Why the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo is the best value around

By Bernie Silkowski, Superintendent, BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene In my role with our Division of Safety & Hygiene, I realize the importance of keeping our staff current on the latest updates and trends in workplace safety. I also understand the constraints tight budgets can have on getting this important training and education to …