Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Ohio’s business community, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is waiving several requirements for employers participating in programs that lower their premiums as a reward for creating safer workplaces and doing BWC business online and on time.

BWC is waiving all safety education and training requirements for this policy year — July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, for private employers; calendar year 2019 for public employers — for participants in the following programs:

•  Drug Free Safety Program.
•  EM Cap Program.
•  Grow Ohio.
•  Industry Specific Safety Program.
•  One Claim Program.
•  Policy Activity Rebate Program.

Discounts offered through these programs will be applied automatically. Additionally, the annual report deadline submission for Drug Free Safety Program participants has been extended to June 1, 2020. More on these programs can be found at bwc.ohio.gov.

The waivers follow Governor Mike DeWine’s signing of Ohio House Bill 197 granting the state numerous provisions designed to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on Ohioans.

Additionally, to help businesses facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio BWC is announcing that unpaid insurance premium installment amounts due for March, April, and May for the current policy year can be deferred until June 1, 2020.  BWC will consider the issue further as we approach June 1, 2020.

BWC will not refund amounts to employers who have already paid some or all of their premiums that were scheduled to be paid during those months. Employers that wish to submit payments for March, April, and May are free to do

For more on COVID-19 as it relates to BWC, visit this Frequently Asked Questions page. For the latest on COVID-19, visit the Ohio Department of Health website coronavirus.ohio.gov, or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.