News and Updates
Category: Safety Training
2 Hour Safety Training Due June 30
If your company participated in Group Rating or Group Retro during the 2023 policy year (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) and had a claim during the green year(s), you’re required to complete two hours of safety training by June 30, 2024. 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 sourc
OSHA's Aggressive Stance Continues
Things aren't slowing down at OSHA. If you feel like they've been mentioned in the news a lot lately, that's because they're keeping very busy. Workplace safety enforcement has added significant manpower and has been much more active than in previous years. Inspections have increased in number, as well as in breadth and depth, which is why it’s a great time to give your company a safety tune-up. There have been plenty of other regulatory distractions for management teams in 2023, which may have led to a reduction in attention to detail with required safety compliance programs. Pair that with the current OSHA administrator's aggressive background as the chief of Cal-OSHA, and your company should have a renewed desire to review OSHA compliance matters. This should include all of your written programs, as well as sub-elements under those programs. When is the last time you updated your health & safety written programs? When is the last time you checked to ensure all of your training is up to date and documented? When is the last time you completed a safety walk-through of your facility, with corrective action taken for any identified discrepancies? What are your compliance weaknesses? (Maybe you're not even sure) What are the underlying safety deficiencies contributing to your workplace injuries, leaving you vulnerable to OSHA penalties, and what are you doing to correct those issues? These a
2023 Spooner Safety Seminars Announced
*ATTENTION 2022 PY Group and Group Retro Clients* The Spooner Safety Seminars are back on the road! All employers are welcome to attend these informative workplace safety seminars. The training sessions will satisfy BWC’s 2-hour safety training requirement for companies participating in Group Rating or Group Retrospective Rating for the 2022 policy year. Cleveland Area April 18, 2023 from 10 am -12 pm at Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, OH 44131 - Click here to register Dayton/Cincinnati Area April 19, 2023 from 10am - 12 pm at Hilton Garden Inn Dayton South-Austin Landing, 12000 Innovation Drive, Miamisburg, OH 45342 - Click here to register Columbus Area April 19, 2023 from 3pm -5 pm at Embassy Suites, 5100 Upper Metro Place, Dublin, OH 43017 - Click here to register Youngstown Area April 20, 2023 from 10 am - 12 pm at A La Cart Catering, 429 Lisbon Street, Canfield, OH 44406 - Click here to register NOTE: Registration Deadline is 4/10/23, 11:59 PM The attendance fee is $35.00/person, billed out after your attendance. Feel free to contact our safety team with any
Safety Council Resumes In-Person Meetings & Rebates
Along with the new Ohio BWC policy year beginning on July 1, 2022 – one of their most beneficial programs will return in earnest. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Safety Council meetings in Ohio went virtual in the spring of 2020, which also eliminated the rebates that the program boasts for both the 2020 and 2021 policy years. The logic was that true attendance is impossible to track with virtual meetings, and the rebates are intended for companies committing their time to learn more about creating safer working environments. While we’ve always championed safety, we also know that several businesses didn’t see enough ROI (without the rebates) to continue their membership to a safety council over the last two years. Participating in a local safety council is beneficial not just for the savings – but also the education, networking, and locating resources to aide your internal safety programs. Ohio businesses have until July 31, 2022 to sign on for the 2022 program. Your company can earn a 2% rebate on 2022-23 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 – in order to get the 2% rebate, your policy premiu
Spooner Safety Seminars Are Back In Session
ATTENTION Group and Group Retro Clients: Spooner Safety Seminars are back on the road! Following a lengthy hiatus, our team is eager to get back on the road educating employers and helping you fulfill your required training credits with BWC. See below to find out when our team will be in your area and get signed up before the March 29 registration deadline. Cleveland Area: April 5th 2022, 10 AM – 12 PM @ Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Rd, Independence, OH 44131 ***This session has reached capacity. If you need help locating another 2 hour session in your region, please reach out to our safety team!*** Dayton/Cincinnati Area: April 6th 2022, 10 AM – 12 PM @ Hilton Garden Inn South-Austin Landing, 12000 Innovation Dr, Miamisburg, OH 45342 Columbus Area: April 6th 2022, 3 PM – 5 PM @ Embassy Suites, 5100 Upper Metro Place, Dublin, OH 43017 Youngstown Area: April 7th 2022, 10 AM – 12 PM @ A La Cart Catering, 429 Lisbon St, Canfield, OH 44406 To register online, click here. NOTE: Registration deadline is Tues 3/29/22, 11:59 PM All employers are welcome to attend these informative workplace safety seminars. The training sessions will satisfy BWC’s 2-hour safety training requirement for companies in Group Rating or Group Retrospective Rating for the 2021 policy year, and are approved for continuing education credits for those with HR credentials. The attendance fee is $35.00/person – this will be invoiced after your attenda
Is Our Company Required To Train Employees in First Aid and CPR?
One question that our safety team gets across nearly all industries is, “Am I required to have my employees certified to perform first aid and CPR?” OSHA requires that in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital within near proximity to the workplace – one or more staff members should be adequately trained to provide first aid. While the standards do not specify exactly how close by, OSHA has long interpreted the term "near proximity" to mean that emergency care must be available within no more than 3-4 minutes from the workplace. One option these standards provide employers is to ensure that a member of the workforce has been trained in first aid. This option is a feasible and low-cost way to protect employees, as well as putting the employer clearly in compliance with the standards. OSHA recommends that every workplace include one or more employees who are trained and certified in first aid, including CPR. While AED training is not specifically addressed or required by the standard, including that in your CPR training is recommended. The team at Spooner Safety will now be offering first aid and CPR training to businesses that would like to certify members of their team as either a requirement or best practice. Please contact Jeremy Smith at 440-249-5696 | Ext: 154 for more
