Assisting employers with their OSHA, BWC, and DOT compliance objectives for 26 years.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Safety Council Program allows employers to earn a 3% premium rebate (up to $5,000) by attending safety meetings, networking, and improving workplace safety.

How to Earn the Rebate

To qualify for the rebate, your business must meet the following criteria during the July 1 to June 30 program year:

• Join a Local Safety Council: Enroll in an active local safety council by the designated summer deadline (typically July 31).
• Earn 10 Credits: You must accumulate a total of 10 safety credits.
• Meeting Requirements: At least 6 of your 10 credits must come from attending your local safety council's monthly meetings or sponsored events.
• External Training: The remaining credits can be earned by attending BWC-sponsored webinars, external safety training sessions, or completing an onsite BWC safety consultation.

Eligibility & Rules

• Good Standing: Your business must be current on premium payments, have reported actual payroll on time, and have no more than 40 cumulative days of lapsed coverage in the past 12 months.
• Limitations: State agencies and self-insuring employers are not eligible.
• Policy Representation: Only one designated representative can earn credit for a specific BWC policy number at each event.

To find and enroll in a local chapter near you, check out the Ohio BWC Safety Councils Directory.

Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (SUPR), formerly known as the Drug-Free Safety Program, is BWC's voluntary safety program developed to address workplace use and misuse of alcohol and other drugs. It's designed to help state-fund employers more effectively prevent on-the-job injuries and illnesses by integrating drug-free efforts into their overall workplace safety program.

Program changes effective July 1, 2025. For a summary of changes, please visit the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Program Changes page.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the program, as of the application deadline, you must:

• Be a private, state-fund employer or a public employer taxing district
• Be current on all payments due BWC
• Have no cumulative lapses in workers' compensation coverage in excess of 40 days within the preceding 12 months (not applicable for Comparable and reimbursement only levels)
• Be in an active policy status
• Report on actual payroll for the preceding policy year, and pay any premium due upon reconciliation

Enrolling in the Program

Complete the online Application for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (U-140). Employers can apply throughout the year. Those who enroll after the start of the program year receive a pro-rated bonus upon successful submission of the SUPR annual report by the last business day of March for private employers and the last business day of September for public employers. You'll also be asked whether you want to be placed in the public improvement construction contractor/subcontractor database, making you eligible to bid or work on state construction projects.

Program Requirements — Four Levels of Participation

All employers are eligible for reimbursement of specific costs acquired to manage substance use in their workplace. Employers do not have to be participants in the Advanced, Basic, or Comparable levels to apply for reimbursement.

Written Policy

The written drug-free policy describes every program element. It provides the operational rules of the program and must include:

1. A full and fair disclosure of the reasons for implementing the policy
2. SUPR Program provisions and procedures
3. Responsibilities and rights of all employees subject to the policy
4. Consequences of an employee's failure to comply with the policy
5. Confirmation the drug-free workplace policy applies to all employees
6. A commitment to employee health and support for employees seeking help

Employee Awareness Education (Annual, All Employees)

Participating employers must arrange for each employee and supervisor to receive at least one hour of initial training and one hour of refresher training annually. You must use a qualified/credentialed substance professional, go through the BWC learning center, or send a manager through a train-the-trainer course. Educational materials from a train-the-trainer course must be updated at least once every five years.

Supervisor Skills — Roles & Responsibilities (Annual)

In addition to employee training, you must provide all supervisors with a minimum of two hours of initial training, and one hour annually as a refresher for supervisors who have already received the initial two hours. You must use a qualified substance abuse professional, or send a manager to a train-the-trainer class.

Drug & Alcohol Testing

• Advanced, Basic and Comparable: Your policy must include pre-employment/new hire, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing.
• Advanced level: Your policy must also include 15% random testing.
• Comparable and Public Improvement Contractors: Your policy must also include 5% random testing of employees working on public works projects.

Annual Report (BWC SUPR Portal)

You must submit an Annual Report through the BWC Grant and Program Management Portal, including all supporting documentation by the last business day in September for public employers, or the last business day in March for private employers.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Basic level: You must provide a list of local assistance resources for employees who request help or test positive. Advanced level: You must pre-establish a working relationship with an employee assistance provider and pay the cost of the assessment for an employee who tests positive or comes forward voluntarily.

Accident Analysis Online Training

Basic and Advanced levels: You must provide training for all supervisors. This is a one-time-only training requirement, not an annual requirement. You must keep records of training for all active supervisors. Click here BWC's online safety courses to access the training. You must register before entering the BWC E-Learning site to access training.

Online Accident Reporting

Basic and Advanced levels: You must complete and submit an online Accident Report (SUPR-1) to perform an accident analysis for each lost time claim filed during your program year. This form, along with all other SUPR forms, can be found once you log in to the BWC website and scroll down to the Program and Grant Portal section.

Reimbursement

To be eligible, applicants must be in good standing and have a physical office in Ohio. Eligible employers can request reimbursement through the BWC Grant and Program Management Portal (you must be logged into the BWC website) up to $5,000 for policy development and legal review, employee and supervisor training, drug testing under recovery-friendly "second chance" policies, and substance use assessments.