Blog
Important BWC Dates to Remember
Employers participating in Ohio BWC’s Drug-Free Safety Program (Basic or Advanced) or a Comparable Program will need to submit their required reports by March 31. The report and instructions for Basic and Advanced participants can be found online here, and the report and instructions for Comparable-Level participants can be found online here. Your report also serves as an application for the next program year. If you have additional questions or concerns about this reporting, or need a resource for training, please reach out to your Client Services Manager at Spooner Inc., or email clientservices@spoonerinc.net.
If your policy is enrolled in the Claim Impact Reduction Program (CIRP, formerly known as the One Claim Program), you will need to complete the required training by March 31. A representative from your company must attend a half day class or three hour online class offered by BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene. This PDF has additional details about CIRP that first-year participants may find helpful.
For self-insured employers, annual self-insured assessments are due February 28th.
Ohio Safety Congress registration recently opened as well. This three day educational event is free to attend for employers with an active Ohio BWC policy. The Expo Marketplace will be open Wednesday and Thursday, and we encourage you to come visit us in booth 129! You can register for Ohio Safety Congress here.
2025-26 Safety Council Rebate Program
Posted By Brandy King
June 05, 2025
Category: General
Along with the new Ohio BWC policy year beginning on July 1, 2025 – one of their most beneficial programs now has an increased ROI for employers. Participating in a local safety council is beneficial not just for the savings – but also the education, networking, and locating resources to aid your internal safety programs. Ohio businesses have until July 31, 2025 to sign on for the 2025-2026 program. Your company can earn a 3% rebate (not to exceed $5000) on ’25-26 policy year premiums by attending 10 in-person safety council meetings. At least eight (8) of these must be attended through the safety council you’re enrolled with, and up to two (2) credits can be earned through attending BWC-sponsored in-person or virtual events, or in-person training from external sources like your TPA or trade organizations and Chambers of Commerce. Remember – to get the 3% rebate, your policy premiums must be current and your most recent True-Up should have been completed on time. This rebate program can be combined with Group Rating, Group Retro and virtually any other BWC program your company participates in. For more information on the Safety Council Program, reach out to us at 440-249-5260 or check out this
A Big Thank You from the Spooner Team!
Posted By Brandy King
June 05, 2025
Category: General
We’d like to sincerely thank every Ohio employer that chose Spooner Medical Administrators, Inc. (SMAI) as their MCO during MCO Open Enrollment last month, as well as those loyal clients who chose to remain with our MCO. SMAI continues to experience sustainable, organic growth, thanks to the partnerships we have with Chambers of Commerce, trade organizations, Associations, and simply by word of mouth. SMAI has grown in both policies assigned and claims managed, and was also one of only four MCOs to see a net growth during Open Enrollment. The team at SMAI is excited to begin building partnerships with the hundreds of new employers that moved to Spooner Medical Administrators this year. Thanks for putting your faith in us, Ohio businesses! We can’t wait to meet even more new customers when the next Open Enrollment rolls around in
2 Hour Safety Training Deadline for 2024 PY
Posted By Brandy King
June 05, 2025
Category: General
If your company participated in Group Rating or Group Retro during the 2024 policy year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025) and had a claim during the green year(s), you’re required to complete two hours of safety training by June 30, 2025. Please be sure to complete submit the training certificates to your team at Spooner (or your TPA, if you’re not a Spooner client). If you’re unsure if you need to complete this training, reach out to your client services manager. The training doesn’t have to be completed in person – so there’s still time to meet the requirement by participating in one of BWC’s online courses. Here are some details on fulfilling the two-hour training requirement, per the Ohio BWC website. Two-hour Training Options A variety of training sources are available for you to fulfill this requirement. They include the following offered through BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene: Education and Training Services Center courses Ohio Safety Congress & Exposition (OSC) safety education sessions Safety council seminars, workshops, or conferences featuring a safety topic that are at least two hours long (Safety council monthly meetings do not qualify.) Guidelines for courses offered through non-BWC training forums The group sponsor, third-party administrator, or an independent source can sponsor a course, provided it meets the two-hour criteria. The topic must be workplace safety rela
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28605 Ranney Parkway
Westlake, Ohio 44145
Phone: 440-249-5260 ext. 153
Hours: 8AM to 5PM
