Benefits

Worker's Compensation

Your company could save more than half on its annual Workers' Compensation premium cost by enrolling in ACEC Ohio's Group Rating Program.

Group rating enables companies in the same industry to band together to earn big discounts on their Workers Comp premiums. For the policy year beginning July 1, 2010, nearly 100 engineering and architectural firms will save over $1 million on their Workers Comp premiums through their participation in the Group Rating Program.

In addition to saving big dollars, you will receive exceptional service from ACEC Ohio's program administrator, Frank Gates/AVIZENT, a leader in the field of workers' compensation with nearly 60 years of experience.

Don't continue to pay "full price" for Workers' Compensation. Act now to improve your company's bottom line by taking advantage of the tremendous savings offered by this program.

It's easy to obtain a free, no-obligation estimate of how much your firm can save.  Just submit the electronic  AC-3 Form, (when the form opens, select "American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio" from the pull-down menu and fill in the boxes with the required information).  This form simply permits Frank Gates/AVIZENT to review your company's file at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation so that your saving estimate can be developed.

For more information on the ACEC Ohio Group Rating Program, contact Cathy Pletz with AVIZENT at 800/777-4283, ext. 429, or by e-mail at cpletz@avizentrisk.com.

• Get a free, no-hassle savings estimate •

Workplace Safety Information

As the sponsor of a Workers' Compensation Group Rating program, ACEC Ohio has the responsibility to help its members improve the safety of their workplaces and thus reduce the number and severity of Workers' Compensation claims. Check this page regularly for the latest information on how to improve safety in the workplace.

Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation 10-Step Business Plan for Safety.
  • Step 1: Visible active senior management leadership
  • Step 2: Involvement and recognition
  • Step 3: Medical treatment and return to work practices
  • Step 4: Communications
  • Step 5: Timely notification of claims
  • Step 6: Safety and health process coordination and employer education
  • Step 7: A written orientation and employee training plan
  • Step 8: Written and communicated safe work practices
  • Step 9: Written safety and health statement or philosophy
  • Step 10. Recordkeeping and data analysis.

A wide array of additional safety information and services are available through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Division of Safety and Hygiene.

Group Rating Safety Accountability Letter

 

Office Safety Checklist

Safety Resources

 The BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene offers educational and safety consulting services at no additional cost. Safety & Hygiene consultants assist employers by identifying safety and health hazards and assessing safety programs and making recommendations for improvements. The Division of Safety & Hygiene provides the following services:

  • Safety Audits
  • Ergonomic Studies
  • Industrial Hygiene Consulting
  • Reference Materials, Videos, etc.
  • Safety Publications
  • Employee Safety Training
  • Safety Councils
  • All - Ohio Safety and Health Congress

For more information, call their toll free number at 1-800-OHIOBWC or 1-800-644-6292, ext. 22.

Preventing cuts and lacerations

Each year, millions of workers suffer workplace injuries that could have been prevented. Some of the most common and preventable injuries are cuts and lacerations. Although statistical data differs from study to study, cuts and lacerations often rank as the second or third most frequent workplace injury.

Approximately 30 percent of all workplace injuries involve cuts or lacerations, and about 70 percent of those injuries are to the hands or fingers.  Common cut/laceration injuries include:

  • Scratches and abrasions;
  • Minor cuts requiring first aid;
  • Needle sticks;
  • Puncture wounds;
  • Deep lacerations requiring medical attention, sutures; 
  • Lacerations involving nerve and/or tendon damage;
  • Amputations.

Typical hazards/causes of cuts and lacerations

  • Improper training
  • Lack of established safety procedures
  • Employees in a hurry, taking short cuts or not following safety procedures
  • Failure to wear cut-resistant gloves or wearing improper gloves for job
  • Contact with metal items such as nails, metal stock or burrs
  • Hand tools with blades (e.g., knives, box cutters, screwdrivers, chisels)
  • Powered machinery with cutting blades, pinch points, chain and sprocket, conveyor belts, rotating parts, motors, presses, lathes O Handling sharp objects or material such as glass, sheet metal
  • Improper tool for the job or tool used improperly (e.g., using a screwdriver as a pry bar)
  • Tools in poor condition (e.g., cracked or broken handle, dull blade, mushroomed head or slippery from exposure to oil-based chemicals)
  • Missing or improperly adjusted guarding
  • Poor housekeeping, clutter, debris
  • Poor lighting, reduced visibility

 One of the most common sources of cuts and lacerations is the use of knives and other cutting tools.

Below are suggestions for knife and blade safety:

  • Wear proper safety gear; eyewear, gloves, sleeves.
  • Use the proper tool for the job.
  • Inspect tools prior to use.
  • Keep work area clear.
  • Keep tool under control at all times.
  • Keep the item you are cutting secured; don’t hold work in hand while cutting.
  • Use a sharp blade; a dull blade requires greater force, increasing potential hazards.
  • Replace blades when they become dull; use caution when disposing of used blades (e.g., use approved sharps container or wrap the cutting edge with heavy tape).
  • Stand in a well-balanced position.
  • Pull the blade toward you when cutting on a horizontal surface.
  • Make sure the path of the cut is clear, and keep the non-cutting hand out of the path of the cut.
  • When cutting thick material, use several passes of the blade and apply more downward pressure with each pass.
  • Never use a cutting blade as a screwdriver, pry bar or chisel.
  • Don’t leave exposed blades unattended; use self-retracting cutting blades.
  • When appropriate, use rounded tip cutting blades rather than pointed tip blades.
  • Maintain proper storage or use a separate drawer for sharp cutting tools.
  • Keep cutting tools in a closed position or covered with a protective sheath.

Provided by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Division of Safety & Hygiene

 

 

Ohio Safety Congress & Expo 2011

March 29 to 31 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center

Join 5,000 safety-minded individuals at Ohio’s largest and most established occupational safety and health event. Your competition will be there, and here’s why you should, too.

  • Reduce training costs for you and your employees at 150 educational sessions.
  • Earn free CEUs for accreditation and BWC discount programs.
  • Streamline your product purchases at the Expo Marketplace.
  • Discover solutions to real-life safety scenarios.
  • Save on registration fees and out-of-state travel expenses.
  • Fewer injuries mean lower workers’ compensation costs.

For more info go to http://www.ohiobwc.com/employer/programs/safety/SafetyCongress.asp