With many worried about becoming injured on the job, recent grants awarded in Ohio should alleviate some of those concerns. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation awarded more than $217,000 to 10 companies within the state hoping to make their businesses safer for their employees.
The program, known as the Safety Intervention Grant program, looked at businesses that applied for the grants and gave the successful applicants funding that was double the amount provided by the company itself. The program limits the amount a single company can receive from the program to $40,000, meaning that the company would have put forth $20,000 towards employee safety.
One such company, a manufacturer in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, was given $18,733.92 so that it can procure an automatic etching and stamping machine. This machine will help decrease the number of workplace injuries that the company has by eliminating a task that is very repetitive and can wear down an individual. Repetitive tasks can cause musculoskeletal conditions that can make working very difficult.
Another company was awarded $9,602.47. The trucking company located in Darke County will use the money that it received to purchase non-slip surfacing for the steps on some of its large trucks. This will hopefully make entering and exiting the truck much safer. Also in Darke County, a contractor that deals mainly with concrete was given the maximum amount of $40,000 to fund an automatic concrete rake, which will help employees avoid the repetitive and arduous task of pouring and raking concrete. Other companies received funding to minimize the occurrences of sprains, cuts, forceful exertions and awkward postures.
Source: Insurance Journal, “Ohio Businesses Awarded More Than $200K for Workplace Safety,” Oct. 27, 2011