Ohio Launches Destination: Excellence
An injury on the job can leave a worker unable to work for several months in Hamilton County and this can create problems for the worker and the worker’s family. However an injured employee can seek workers’ compensation benefits to help them meet their financial obligations until they are able to return to work according to Ohio’s Code.
According to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation annual report for 2012, there were over 1 million open claims filed and 112,613 state-fund claims filed during the year. The BCW paid out over $1 billion in wage loss, medical benefits, permanent total disability, death benefits, rehabilitation and temporary loss to workers in Ohio.
Destination: Excellence
No employee wants to become injured at work and go through the frustration and pain associated with medical care and rehabilitation. The Ohio BWC is encouraging employers to improve workplace safety through their new discount plan, Destination: Excellence according to WorkersCompensation.com. The plan is also designed to encourage employers to create a transitional plan that enables injured employees to return to work sooner and accommodate that worker until they are able to resume their full responsibilities.
For the employees of the over 100,000 Ohio employers that are participating, this means that they will find safety emphasized in their workplace and that, should they become injured, there could be a program designed to work with them. The plan that employers sign up for can be customized to allow companies to focus on areas they may have problems with.
Choice of programs
Employers can choose from among seven different programs when they sign up for Destination: Excellence. These programs include:
- Creating a drug and alcohol-free work environment
- Vocational rehabilitation to help workers with serious injuries be able to work again
- Discounts for using electronic methods to report and receive payroll reports
- Transitional work to help workers with limitations be able to come back to work
- Safety programs designed for a specific type of industry
With a choice of programs, companies can pick and choose which program works the best for them. To encourage employers into signing up for the Destination: Excellence plan, the BWC offers companies low rates that remain stable which can save them money on their workers’ compensation insurance. Estimates put savings for employees who have signed up for the plan at $28-$41 million.
Filing a claim for compensation
When an employee is injured while performing their job, it is important for them to make a claim on workers’ compensation as soon as possible. Seeking workers’ compensation involves a great deal of paperwork and if something is missing or filled out incorrectly it could mean a denial of benefits. If you have suffered an injury related to your job you should talk to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in your area before filing your claim.