BWC Safety Council Rebate Program
Safety Meeting Attendance
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Division of Safety & Hygiene (DSH) administers the Ohio safety council program to provide a forum for occupational safety and health education, resources and networking in local communities.
Eligibility Requirements
Thousands of Ohio employers benefit from the education, resource sharing, and premium savings which result from actively participating in their local safety council monthly meetings. And you can join them.
• BWC increased the rebate employers receive on their workers’ compensation premium to 3% for the upcoming program year.
• Learn techniques for increasing safety, health, and wellness in your workplace.
• Network and share best practices with other employers in your community.
• Identify resources to assist you in your accident prevention efforts.
• Access risk management information and strategies to reduce your workers’ compensation costs.
Participation in an Ohio safety council is simpler and easier than ever before.
• Join or confirm your existing, active membership in a local safety council by July 31, 2023.
• Attend 10 in-person safety council meetings between July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 to qualify for the rebate.
Additional safety council rebate eligibility guidelines:
- A person can represent only one policy number at a safety council meeting or external training event.
- Employers must be enrolled in a safety council for meeting attendance to qualify.
- Employers may earn one external training credit per event.
- Safety training conducted at an employer’s workplace does not qualify for safety council rebate program eligibility.
- Virtual/online training does not qualify for safety council rebate program eligibility except BWC virtual training classes.
* The rebate offer excludes self-insuring employers and state agencies. Limitations apply to professional/alternate employer organizations and their clients.
To receive the rebate, not to exceed $5,000 annually, employers’ policies must be current with respect to all payments due to BWC. Employers may not have cumulative lapses in workers’ compensation coverage in excess of 40 days within the prior 12 months. Additionally, employers must have timely reported actual payroll for the preceding policy year and pay any premium due upon reconciliation of estimated premium and actual premium.
External Training Credits
It is the employer’s responsibility to submit an official certificate of attendance for external training credit to the safety council in which they are enrolled by June 30, 2024.
You can earn external training credit for up to two meetings through attendance at BWC-sponsored in-person or virtual training courses or in-person safety training from other external sources (e.g. industry associations, third party administrators, etc.). It is the employer’s responsibility to submit documentation to safety council by June 30, 2024 for attendance at non-safety council safety training to qualify. Documentation must be an official certificate of attendance or transcript.
