BWC News

BWC: Ohio Workplaces Are Becoming Safer

According to a recent Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) report, workplace injuries in Ohio declined by 30 percent between fiscal 1997 and fiscal 2004.

In the state's fiscal year 2004, which ended June 30, 2004, there were 184,810 Ohioans injured at work, compared with 263,179 on-the-job injuries for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997.

James Conrad, BWC's administrator and CEO, attributed the decrease in injuries to a combination of safety programs sponsored by BWC and greater employer awareness on the importance of preventing injuries.

The study also examined allowed claim trends over the same eight-year period. The statewide average was 2.0 claims per $1 million of payroll. In fiscal 2004, the state paid out more than $870.4 million in medical benefits to injured workers. The state saved another $126.2 million by identifying fraudulent activities and not paying fraudulent claims.