While some states such as Illinois and Wisconsin struggle to pay their bills, another Midwestern state is funding $2 million in research to improve workplace safety.
Ohio’s Bureau of Worker’s Compensation announced last week that it was committed to making warehouses, factories and other work sites in that state safer and reducing worker injuries and deaths.
Partnering with Academic Institutions
Steve Buehrer, the agency’s adminstrator and CEO, said partnering with such schools as Ohio State University and others within the state made perfect sense.
“While workplace safety and accident prevention have long been part of our mission at BWC, we are pleased to now champion research in the area of occupational safety and health research, Buehrer said. “We are excited to partner with some of the finest academic institutions in Ohio to support research that could shift thinking on current workplace safety practices and introduce innovative approaches to preventing injuries and illnesses among Ohio’s workforce.”
‘Another Billion Back’
The grants are part of Ohio’s “Another Billion Back” program, a statewide program designed to rebate $1 billion to Ohioh’s private and puiblic sector workmen’s compensation customers, along with the worker safety and research in order to stimulate job growth and boost the state’s economy. The program follows 2013’s initial “Billion Back” plan launched by Buehrer and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Both rebates were made possible by strong investment returns in the worker’s compensation fund.
Public Money to Protect Workers
A total of six Ohio universities will receive funding from the state as part of the project. They include:
- Ohio University, in Athens, whose College of Engineering and Technology will receive $244,981 to measure the impact of integrating safety and ergonomics into Ohio manufacturing companies.
- Ohio State University, in Columbus, which will receive $248,931 to develop standards and guidelines for torque wrenches; $249,268 for developing standards and guidelines for pushing and pulling; and $79,396 to study safety for workers in grain bin operations.
- Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, which will receive $249,975 to study slips, trips and falls in the wholesale and construction industries; and $250,000 to study total worker health and wellness.
- University of Cincinnati, which will receive $249,999.67 to study safe patient handling in long-term care facilities.
- Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, which will receive $249,999 to study the prevention of injury, assault, and abuse of nurse aides working in long-term residential settings.
Program Praised by High Education
Among the supporters of Another Billion Back is John Carey, chancellor of Ohio’s Board of Regents.
“It is wonderful to see Ohio’s colleges and universities as research grant recipients,” Carey said. “It speaks well to the work they are already doing, and this new research will make great strides toward keeping Ohio’s workforce healthy.”
Private Companies Also Benefit
The BWC also awarded $1.5 million in Safety Intervention Grants to 54 companies in January. The grants assist companies in reducing employee illness and injury.
Companies that apply for the grants — which top out at $40,000 — are required to match the state’s contribution.
Among the businesses receiving the money was Legacy Farmers Cooperative, of Hancock County, which received $24,468 for 15 tarp-conversion kits that would reduce the risk of injury to the hands, shoulders and lower extremities. The kits will improve the manual tarping and untarping process.