OhioBWC - Home: Current News | ||||
|
For immediate release: April 12, 2018 BWC awards $370,000 in grants to protect Ohio firefighters
COLUMBUS - Thirty-seven Ohio fire departments will share $369,678 in grants from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) under a program to protect firefighters from carcinogens and other harmful elements encountered during a fire fight. The fire departments (listed below) are receiving the funding under BWC's Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant Program, which helps departments purchase safety gear, exhaust systems and specialized washing machines. Because residue collected on firefighters' gear during a blaze can cause respiratory disease, cancer and other ailments, it is important not only to wear appropriate protective gear, but also to ensure its cleaned properly. "The fire community's tremendous response to this program shows they understand the importance of equipping every firefighter with the appropriate protective gear," said BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. "BWC is pleased to be part of the effort to increase awareness while funding equipment that can limit serious health consequences down the road." Originally funded at $2 million a year, Morrison last month announced an increase in funding for the program due to heavy demand. Grant recipients include: Green-Perrysville Joint Fire District (Ashland County) Geneva Fire Department (Ashtabula County) Rome Township (Athens County) City of Martins Ferry (Belmont County) Neff Volunteer Fire Department (Belmont County) Sunset Heights Volunteer Fire Department (Belmont County) City of Hamilton (Butler County) Tate Township (Clermont County) City of Wilmington (Clinton County) Port William-Liberty Township Joint Fire and EMS District (Clinton County) Knox Township (Columbiana County) City of Olmsted Falls (Cuyahoga County) Cuyahoga Heights Village (Cuyahoga County) Mayfield Village (Cuyahoga County) Olmsted Township Fire Department (Cuyahoga County) Liberty Township Fire Department (Darke County) Perkins Township (Erie County) Pleasant Township (Fairfield County) Thurston Village (Fairfield County) Gorham Township (Fulton County) Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue (Hamilton County) Tiltonsville Volunteer Fire Department (Jefferson County) City of Ironton (Lawrence County) City of Avon Lake (Lorain County) Camden Township (Lorain County) Granger Township (Medina County) Auglaize Township (Paulding County) City of Aurora Fire Department (Portage County) Village of Mogadore (Portage & Summit Counties) Jefferson Township Trustees (Richland County) Scioto Township (Ross County) City of Louisville (Stark County) Plain Township Trustees (Stark County) Bath Township (Summit County) City of Akron (Summit County) City of Wooster (Wayne County) City of Rossford (Wood County) The grant program, announced in as a component of BWC's Third Billion Back rebate plan, provides a 5-to-1 match up to $15,000 for public and private employers with annual payroll of at least $500,000. No match is required for employers with less than $500,000 in payroll. More about the program is available at www.bwc.ohio.gov. Media Contacts: Melissa Vince, 614-466-2956 or 614-202-2329, melissa.vince@bwc.state.oh.us Tony Gottschlich, 614-644-4940 or 614-296-1734, anthony.gottschlich@bwc.state.oh.us Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation provides workers' compensation insurance to 244,000 public and private Ohio employers. With nearly 1,900 employees and assets of approximately $27 billion, BWC is the largest state-run insurance system in the United States. Our mission is to protect Ohio's workers and employers through the prevention, care and management of workplace injuries and illnesses at fair rates. For more, visit www.bwc.ohio.gov. # # #
|