Ohio employers honored for exemplary workers' comp programs

Twelve businesses from around Ohio received the Governor's Excellence in Workers' Compensation awards Wednesday, August 22, 2002, for setting standards in improved workplace safety and the administration of workers' compensation.

Brian Hicks, Chief of Staff for Governor Bob Taft, and James Conrad, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) presented the twelve employers with the award.

Now in its 6th year, the Governor's Excellence in Workers' Compensation awards recognize outstanding Ohio businesses and public employers who provide safe workplaces for their employees, while supporting their injured workers with safety and return to work and other claims-management strategies.

"Good workplace safety contributes to Ohio's ability to attract and keep businesses and these responsible Ohio businesses and public employers who are proactive in taking care of their employees through creative safety programs, " Taft said.

"Preventing an on-the-job injury prevents more than just pain to the worker and loss of productivity to the employer, it promotes better working quality of life for all involved."

BWC employees, state agency representatives and local business organizations, such as chambers of commerce, nominated employers based on a demonstration of a commitment to creating a safe workplace; the administration of an outstanding cost-containment program; an exhibition of active senior leadership; encouragement of employee involvement; and achievement of measurable results.

"These are companies who work hard to protect Ohio's working men and women and serve as model for their peers to follow," said Administrator Conrad. "These employers care about their employees by creating safe work environments to prevent injuries in the workplace. In these types of organizations, workers are less likely to be injured and if they become injured, the employer helps their employees and their families get things back to normal and back to work."

Ohio's commitment to safety is a factor that has allowed BWC to return money to employers in the form of lower premium rates and other cost reductions. This has happened at the same time that many states have raised workers compensation premiums as much as 20 percent.

In fact, since Governor Taft took office, employers have saved $2.6 billion in direct workers' compensation costs without a single reduction in benefits to injured workers.

The 2001 Governor's Excellence in Workers' Compensation Award winners are:

Public employers

Lake Metroparks is a system of 27 parks encompassing more than 6,000 acres of recreational, scenic, historic and geologically significant sites in the Cleveland area. It employs 300 full- and part-time workers on a year-round basis, and as many as 200 seasonal workers during the summer. Lake Metroparks takes the roughly $100,000 it saves each year through group rating, and invests it in employee safety by hiring a safety consultant, and purchasing training and equipment. Senior management is an active contributor to the safety process, and employees contribute to writing and reviewing all safety programs.

Chillicothe City Schools makes the safety of its staff and students a high priority. The board of education, administration and staff have been cited as a model of cooperation where safety is concerned. The district works closely with BWC's Division of Safety and Hygiene and has aggressively made improvements recommended by safety consultants. The school board continually reviews and updates its safety policies, and is always willing to authorize expenditures that improve the safety of it staff and students.

Cuyahoga Community College (CCC), Cleveland, is Ohio's first (founded in 1963) and largest (serving more than 55,000 students each year) community college. CCC recognizes that a person cannot be physically unable to work one day, then able to work at full strength the next. The college provides modified-duty jobs so that injured employees can return to work while recuperating from lost-time injuries. CCC has accomplished this without ‘making up' work for injured employees to do. CCC also has a wage-continuation program that allows an injured worker with an uncontested claim to continue receiving his or her pay without interruption.

State-fund employers

Jones-Hamilton Co., Walbridge, an employee-owned company, is a leading chemical manufacturer and distributor in North America. Employee safety is an integral part of Jones-Hamilton's business strategy, and is considered to be essential to the success of the company. Through education and training, the company promotes a culture that empowers everyone to improve working conditions resulting in more than 2,100 consecutive days without a lost-time injury claim.

IMCO Recycling Inc., the world's largest recycler of aluminum and zinc, is dedicated to being the "Best in all we do." That creed includes protecting the health of its employees. The company's largest plant, IMCO Recycling of Ohio Inc., in Uhrichsville, employs more than 200 people and has the capacity to recycle 60 million pounds per month. The company combines education, training and a team approach to ensure the safety and health of its employees.

Hancor Inc., Findlay, makes safety a core value of the company and it is a team effort, from the president of the company on down. The president and employees work side-by-side on the Central Safety Committee. Employees help conduct safety audits. Hancor has developed several of its own safety training videos to supplement new employee orientation and other training efforts. All company safety information is computerized and accidents are reported immediately to supervisors and investigated. The company also networked with local providers to ensure that injured workers receive prompt medical care.

Shalom House Inc., Columbus, is a not-for-profit organization comprising two intermediate care/mental retardation facilities that house eight and 14 residents. Both homes are Medicaid-managed. The organization employs 50 workers and has not experienced a lost-time injury claim since 1993. Shalom House used BWC SafetyGRANT$ to fund a number of ergonomic improvements that reduce or eliminate the risk of cumulative trauma disorders. The company in conducts its own ergonomic risk assessments and has developed a system of supervisory accountability for employee safety.

General Tool Co., Cincinnati, is one of the largest and best-equipped contract-manufacturing firms in the United States. The company was founded in 1947 on the belief that each employee would take personal responsibility to assure total customer satisfaction. General Tool has been progressive and proactive in its approach to managing workers' compensation issues, allocating resources to safety improvements, developing and following safe work practices, and encouraging involvement of its employees. The company has participated in BWC's retrospective rating program since 1995 and has an active labor/management safety committee.

BWXT of Ohio Inc., Miamisburg, has made an impressive commitment to the safety of its workers, as evidenced by more than 1,135 consecutive days without a lost-time accident (and only one since 1997). The company has logged nearly 6 million consecutive safe work hours. Employees are involved in work planning, hazard mitigation and safety inspections, and each employee has a personal safety training plan based upon his or her job duties. The company's Integrated Safety Management program systematically integrates safety into all levels of management and work practices; and its Target Zero Safety Program focuses on such principles as planning, participation and observation.

Jenkins Memorial Health Facility, Wellston, is a not-for-profit nursing facility in rural Jackson County. Established in 1971, it employs approximately 100. The facility's goal is to keep resident rates low while providing optimal care, and management realizes that keeping workers' compensation costs down also helps control patients' rates. Jenkins Memorial has worked diligently over the past two years to prevent accidents and decrease lost work time; having accomplished its lost-time goals (none since 1997) while making great progress in reducing injuries.

Self-insured employer

Viox Services Inc. is a full-service facility management firm located in Reading. Founded in 1946, the company employs more than 700 people full time. The company stresses that safety is a round-the-clock commitment, that everyone is responsible for the safety of their actions and that managers are accountable for the safety of workers under their supervision. Accident costs, both injuries and property damage, are charged back to managers' budgets and used as part of their annual salary review.

Most improved employer

Von Roll America is a hazardous waste incinerator located in East Liverpool. Safety is a core value at Von Roll and employee safety and accident prevention are an integral part of its operations. Every staff member receives safety training emphasizing that prevention of injuries is the most effective claims-management tool. If an injury does occur, Von Roll uses transitional duty to get the injured worker back to work as soon as possible. Von Roll America has taken advantage of the BWC SafetyGRANT$ program along with the Drug-Free Workplace Program. Von Roll was awarded ISO 14001 certification in December 1998 as a result of its excellent achievement in environmental management -- the first employer in its industry to receive this certification. Von Roll strives to meet the vision of "Setting Tomorrow's Standards Today."