The purpose of the Safety Intervention Grant Program is to gather information about the effectiveness of safety interventions so we 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.

In return, employers will submit to BWC quarterly data reports and a case study one year after the date of the intervention. We’ll use this information to determine the effectiveness of the intervention and share successes with other employers.

Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for a safety intervention grant, you must:

• Be a state-fund or public employer;
• Maintain active coverage - not more than 40 days lapsed in the prior 12 months;
• Be current on all monies owed BWC;
• Demonstrate the need for safety intervention;
• Provide two-year baseline data;
• Have active BWC coverage with past payroll reports (four if a private employer, two if a public employer) for the purpose of defining employer eligibility cycle.

Moratorium list and unapproved purchases
Interventions not within the program scope include the following:

Steps to apply
1. Consultant visits
You must contact your local BWC customer service office to schedule visit(s) by a BWC safety consultant prior to submitting the online application. The employer will allow BWC staff access to the work site to perform an assessment of the facility and operation/area of concern. BWC staff will also complete a comprehensive safety assessment report. This assessment provides BWC with a more comprehensive look at the applicant’s overall safety practices. This could help assess the cost effectiveness of providing a safety grant. BWC will also conduct a five-year claims history review.

To schedule a consultant to visit, call BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene at 1-800-644-6292, and listen to the options.

2. Pre-work for application
Consider using the list below as preparation for completing the steps to apply.

Gather the following data for the operation of concern.

1. Injury statistics, associated claim numbers and costs for past two years;
2. Production and quality data;
3. Absenteeism and turnover rates;
4. Number of employees in operation of concern;
5. Hours worked by all employees in operation of concern for past two years;
6. Job safety analysis or work procedures;
7. Pictures or video of the operation/tasks of concern.

1. Make sure item is not on the BWC safety grant moratorium list.
2. Contact vendor(s) to research item.
3. Arrange for a demo or a trial period if possible.
4. Include affected employees in evaluation.
5. Get pictures or drawings to illustrate intervention(s).
6. Get a recent, detailed price quote(s) for the intervention(s) from the equipment vendor.The detailed price quote must be specifically for the employer applying for the grant funds, and must list all items to be purchased.

1. Gather safety management and safety program documentation.
2. Contact BWC consultant to schedule a meeting (see step 1 above).
3. Assist with facility/job analysis, exposure assessments, etc.
4. Refer to results/report to assist with writing your grant narrative.

1. Baseline data;
2. Description of the problem;
3. Proposed intervention;
4. Research/program needs.

• Approved grant application budget page;
• Itemized invoice(s) pertaining to all approved equipment purchased showing either “Stamped” Paid in Full or “Typed-Written” Paid in Full;
• Proof of employer contribution;
• Copies of all canceled check(s) or online bank statements issued that demonstrate you paid in full all invoices associated with the intervention. This must include all BWC and employer matching contributions.

Use of grant funds
BWC reserves the right to approve or deny any application based upon research needs, program needs and/or intervention effectiveness. The safety intervention grant review board may deny grant applications for interventions for which BWC has already collected enough research information or for interventions that are outside the scope of the research program. See the moratorium list or call 1-800-644-6292.

Multiple grants
You may apply for grant money more than once, not to exceed the maximum total amount of $40,000 as allowed per employer eligibility cycle.

Approved purchases
You may only use the safety intervention grant to purchase ergonomic, safety and/or industrial hygiene equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses. You may not use safety intervention grant funds for salaries, wages, internal labor and the cost of preparing the application. You must complete purchases within 90 days of receipt of grant award. BWC will hold a company responsible for using the grant in the intended manner. The company may face administrative, civil and/or criminal sanctions should it misappropriate funds.

Prior purchases
You may not use grant money for safety interventions you’ve already purchased. This includes any or all of the following:

• Ordered equipment;
• Received equipment;
• Received paid equipment.

Any changes to intervention must be approved
If the employer decides to make any changes to the intervention during the implementation, the changes must be approved prior to the implementation of such changes. You must submit requests for changes and/or modifications in writing as an addendum to your application, and provide BWC with an amended budget and itemized expense report. If you have questions, call 1-800-644-6292.

Testing equipment
Employers may test equipment before applying for a safety intervention grant. BWC grant funds will not be used to cover the cost of testing. Therefore, the agreement for the testing period is between the employer and the vendor. If the employer decides to test equipment and applies for grant funds to purchase the equipment, the baseline data must be the two-year period prior to the test period.

External consultants
You may not use the grant money for external consultant fees.

Return unused funds
You must reimburse BWC for funds you did not use from the Safety Intervention Grant Program within 30 days after the 90-day expiration date. Failure to repay BWC all unused portions of the grant may result in administrative, civil and/or criminal sanctions.

IRS 1099 requirement
BWC must issue an IRS 1099 form to you for all unused and/or unverified funds. Acceptable verification is your original paid invoice(s) and copies of canceled check(s) to verify payment. If you fail to submit all documentation in accordance with the terms of the Safety Intervention Grant Program, and/or you have not verified how you spent the funds by Dec. 31 of a given year, the award could be considered income received and may be taxable. (Note: The issuance of a 1099 form does not preclude BWC from seeking administrative, civil and/or criminal sanctions if you do not reimburse the bureau all unused grant money and/or funds deemed misappropriated.)

Note: Participation in BWC’s DFSP, DFWP and SIG programs requires all grant recipients to verify by invoice/receipt and check copy that the grant money was used for the intended purposes. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the grant program.

BWC reserves the right to recover grant monies from disqualified grant recipients by one or more of the following methods:

• Billing the employer for the grant money received;
• Forwarding to the Ohio Attorney General for collection, set off, recoupment or other legal remedy.

Program considerations
Cooperate with BWC by providing access to information to help measure the effectiveness of your intervention. Allow BWC staff access to the work site to observe, photograph, and/or videotape affected processes before and after the intervention.

Grant recipients must allow BWC to publish safety intervention grant results, including but not limited to data, videos, specifications, and/or photos for the purposes of illustrating, educating, and training employers and employees.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 125.112 (F), BWC is required to post to the BWC website names of grant recipients and dollar amounts awarded.

No job elimination
You must agree you will eliminate no jobs due to the proposed intervention. You should further consider that we’ll require you to reimburse us up to the full amount of the grant, should you fail to adhere to the regulations, terms and/or conditions of the award.

Signature on application and agreement
Private employers must sign the application and agreement signifying that they are an employee with fiduciary responsibilities; and the employer agrees the signer or his or her successor will have the authority to oversee the carrying out of the employer’s responsibilities for two years after the implementation of the intervention. The signer’s authority will continue until the employer notifies BWC of the name of the successor.

Public employers are required to sign the application and agreement signifying that they have primary fiduciary responsibilities under the public employer's BWC policy number. The employer agrees the signer or his or her successor will have the authority to oversee the carrying intervention out of the employer's responsibilities for two years after the implementation of the intervention.

Professional employer organizations (PEOs)

State-fund employers who are in PEO/client relationship are generally not eligible to apply for a safety intervention grant. In order to apply for a grant, the client employer must demonstrate the task being addressed by the grant funded equipment is for employees covered under the client employer’s BWC policy.

PEOs are eligible for safety grants under their own policy number. A PEO can only use these grants for operations owned/operated by it and not for any client employer.

Disqualification from program
If for any reason the employer participating in the Safety Intervention Grant Program fails to satisfy one or more of the criteria established in the application and instructions, Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 4123-17-56, BWC may disqualify the employer from the program. Disqualification will result in termination of BWC’s obligations under this agreement. BWC reserves the right to recover grant monies by one or more of the following methods:

• Billing the employer for the grant money received;
• Forwarding to the Office of the Attorney General of Ohio for collection, set-off, recoupment, or other civil and/or legal remedy.

Required forms
As a grant recipient, the state considers you a state vendor. This means you must complete the three forms below, and send them to Ohio Shared Services.

Vendor Information Form (OBM-5657-Rev.11/1/2011)
Verify all fields are complete and you have signed the form. We do not accept electronic signatures. Also, verify information contained on the W-9 matches that provided on the Vendor Information Form - specifically, legal business name, taxpayer ID# (TIN) and business type/business entity.

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number & Certification (W-9)
Complete all applicable sections of the document, including taxpayer type, a valid tax identification number and responsible party’s signature. We do not accept electronic signatures. The information you provide must match how you’re registered with the IRS. You can find instructions for completing the form on the IRS website. Should you require additional assistance, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Authorization Agreement for Direct Deposit of EFT Payments (OBM-4310-Rev.11/1/2011)
The preferred method of payment for the State of Ohio is EFT. Complete this form and include a current voided check or bank letter. The agreement contains instructions. Send the completed forms to:

Vendor Maintenance
Ohio Shared Services
P.O. Box 182880
Columbus, OH 43218-2880
Email: vendor@ohio.gov
Fax: 614-485-1052

If you have questions, call Ohio Shared Services at 1-877-644-6771 or 614-338-4781.

Reporting
Submit your 90-day data reports here.
Employers are required to provide a one-year case study report on their Safety Intervention Grant item. Send the case study one year after the implementation date to:

BWC Safety Intervention Grants
c/o Safety Intervention Grants program coordinator
13430 Yarmouth Drive
Pickerington, OH 43147-8310
Fax: 614-365-4972

Annual reporting forms

• Case Study
• Cost Benefit Analysis

Best practices
This section of our website allows users to select an industry and risk factor type, or enter a key word search to obtain case studies specific to their interests.

Preliminary results of the CTD grant program
We developed the best practice manuals listed below based on the research data gathered through our Safety Intervention Grant program. Click on any link below to download and print.

• Ergonomics Best Practices for the Construction Industry
• Ergonomics Best Practices for Extended-Care Facilities
• Ergonomics Best Practices for Manufacturing
• Ergonomics Best Practices for the Plastics Industry
• Ergonomics Best Practices for Public Employers

Drug-Free Safety Program (DFSP) grants
DFSP grants are available to assist employers who are implementing the DFSP at the Basic or Advanced level. However, employers operating a comparable program are not eligible for DFSP grant funding.

The new DFSP grants guide is available for services supplied under the DFSP program requirements (services rendered after July 1, 2010). You also can view a chart that summarizes the new DFSP grants policy and covered items.