Ohio BWC Unveils Wellness Program
The program's resources and support services aim to help eligible businesses prevent injuries, reduce absenteeism, improve presenteeism, reduce injury severity, and reduce time away from work due to an injury.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is offering a wellness program named Better You, Better Ohio!™ to help workers who are employed at small businesses in high-hazard industries. The program offers health and wellness resources and services at no cost and with online registration.
To be eligible for it, a business must have 50 or fewer employees; not have an existing health and wellness program for its employees; and be in one of the approved industries: agriculture; automotive repair and service; construction; firefighters; health care; manufacturing; police and public safety; public employers; restaurant and food service; transportation and trucking; trash collection; and wholesale and retail.
BWC said on an FAQ page that it is offering the program because "Ohio, like much of the nation, is facing major health challenges driven primarily by obesity, aging and the rise in chronic diseases (i.e. diabetes and cardiovascular diseases). As of 2017, Ohio's health ranking stood at 39th among the 50 states. These health challenges and outcomes are mostly associated with lifestyle behaviors. Individuals can improve these behaviors by using the resources and support services health and wellness programs offer."
The program's resources and support services aim to help eligible businesses:
- Prevent injuries because of improved workforce health and safet
- Reduce absenteeism and improve presenteeism
- Reduce the severity of an injury
- Increase the speed of recovery from an injury
- Reduce time away from work due to an injury