On July 1, 2010, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
(BWC) will replace its existing Drug-Free Workplace Program with an enhanced
Drug-Free Safety Program (DFSP). The new program features smaller discounts
than the former program, but has been simplified and expanded to include more
employers. DFSP is also designed to more effectively prevent illness and
injuries by integrating drug abuse prevention into companies’ comprehensive
safety management systems.For a Limited Time receive a
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Get Your Report Now!DFSP allows employers to participate indefinitely,
eliminating the former 5-year limit on benefits. Furthermore, DFSP features a
streamlined application process, with only two levels, basic and advanced,
instead of the former three-tier arrangement. Employers in the basic program
will receive a 4 percent discount, while those in the advanced program will
receive a 7 percent discount. Both programs incorporate the same components as
BWC’s former drug-free program, which include the following:
- A written substance abuse policy
that describes the company’s drug-free program
- A safety review to identify gaps in
existing programs
- Education for all employees in the
workplace, updated annually
- Supervisor training, including
accident analysis
- A program of alcohol and other drug
testing
- Employee assistance
To participate in the advanced program, employers must
implement a safety action plan to address gaps uncovered in the safety review.
The advanced program also carries more extensive drug testing and employee
assistance requirements than the basic program. For both program levels,
training requirements have been lightened in DFSP compared to the original BWC
program.
DFSP will be available to private employers on July 1, 2010,
and to public employers on January 1, 2011. The application deadline is June 30
for the July 2010 program year and the last business day in October for the
January 2011 program year. For more information, visit http://tiny.cc/lamhu.