Blog
OSHA 300A Submissions
It’s time for employers to submit and post their OSHA 300A. Here are some pointers to guide you through the process. More resources can be found on OSHA.gov.
Electronic Submission:
- Go to https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/
- Click the red “Launch injury tracking application” button on right and follow the instructions
Details:
Who - Establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and/or illnesses. Visit the OSHA website for list of “certain industries”.
What - Covered establishments must electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A.
When - In 2022, covered establishments must submit information from their completed 2021 Form 300A by March 2.
How – OSHA provides a secure website that offers three options for data submission. First, users can manually enter data into a web form. Second, users can upload a CSV file to process multiple establishments at the same time. Last, users of automated recordkeeping systems will have the ability to transmit data electronically via an API (application programming interface).
View the API technical specifications
NOTE TO USERS: Please be aware that if you are submitting data for just one or for a small handful of establishments, it is much easier to enter the data using the web forms rather than creating and uploading a CSV file. Simply click on the "Create Establishment" button and fill out the two web forms for each establishment and you're finished. If you already provided your establishment information for a previous collection (year), you only need to click on “View establishment list”, select the already entered establishment and provide the new 300A summary data.
Posting the 300A in the work place:
- Clients need to post the 300A in the work place between February 1st – April 30th, 2022.
- Posting location needs to be a prominent area like breakroom, time clock, etc., where employees can observe the form.
2025 Group Retro Deadline Approaching
Posted By Brandy King
January 15, 2025
Category: General
The clock is ticking on Group Retro enrollment for the 2025 Ohio BWC policy year! The deadline for Group Retro paperwork is January 27, 2025. If you're a Spooner client enrolling in Retro, you should have already received your program renewal from us. If you haven’t, please reach out to your client services manager. If your BWC policy was disqualified for savings programs for 2025 or you don’t have the flexibility of waiting to see savings, we’d also encourage you to explore SuretyHR, our self-insured PEO (professional employer organization). SuretyHR is an alternative to being insured by Ohio BWC for workers’ compensation. By creating a co-employment relationship with other employers, we’re able to place them in our own self-insured workers’ compensation plan. PEO clients also have the added benefit of SuretyHR’s team assisting with safety, HR, FMLA and unemployment claims administration, and quite a bit more. You can request a savings analysis from SuretyHR
We Won Again: An Update on Withheld Group Retro Refunds
Posted By Brandy King
January 07, 2025
Category: Ohio BWC, Group Retro, 20018 Group Retro, 2019 Group Retro, Group Retro Refunds Withheld
The team at Spooner Risk Control Services, Kent Elastomer Products, Inc. and Roetzel & Andress have scored another win in the fight to get businesses the Group Retro refunds they’ve earned. Background: At the end of 2020, we shared Ohio BWC’s decision to withhold Group Retro refunds owed to participating employers for the 2018 and 2019 policy years. This was based on the concept that employers were already returned 100% of premiums for those years via dividends released to Ohio employers in April and October of 2020. However, dividend distribution and Group Retro refunds are governed by different rules, and different portions of the Ohio Revised Code. We appealed this decision in August 2020, kicking off a legal battle with Ohio BWC that will continue into 2025. After the victory for Group Retro participants in February 2023, BWC appealed the magistrate’s ruling, stating five objections. A hearing was held on November 19, 2024 by the 10th District Court of Appeals, and four of the five objections were overruled. For the reasons detailed here, the court again ruled in favor of Ohio businesses granted a limited writ of mandamus (meaning BWC is obligated to pay out Group Retro refunds). Hellbent on not paying these earned program refunds to employers, BWC chose to file yet another appeal on December 30, 2024 arguing their reasoning for withholding the refunds. From here, the matter will be referred to the Supreme Court of
Update on Non-Compete Ban for 2025
Posted By Brandy King
December 16, 2024
Category: Non Compete, Employment Law, Non Solicitation Agreement, Ohio
FTC’s Non-Compete Ban Blocked, But Gray Area Remains In early 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced and finalized a rule banning the use of non-competes. Employers, Chambers of Commerce and trade organizations rallied against the new rule claiming it was anti-employer, some going as far as calling it “blatantly awful.” As expected, the change was met with litigation and in August of 2024, the ban was struck down by a federal judge in Texas who claimed the FTC overstepped its authority by issuing the rule. A non-compete (or non-competition agreement) is an agreement in which the employee agrees not to engage in conduct or activities that could increase competition for their employer. These types of arrangements are prevalent in finance, healthcare, design, tech and all types of sales or business development roles. They’re meant to protect things like trade secrets, privileged info and client retention. Non-competes aren’t the same as non-solicitation clauses. These agreements err more toward not calling on your former clients in your new role. Here’s an example of differentiating between the two. Non-Compete: “Upon leaving ABC Company, you may not engage in a similar role for another insurance company within a 50-mile radius.” Non-Solicitation: “Upon leaving ABC Company, you may not solicit (contact/call on) clients of ABC Company in your new role with another insurance company.” For now, bo
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