<![CDATA[HFC Safety Council - Blog]]>

<![CDATA[HFC Safety Council - Blog]]>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:54:11 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[HFC Donates to K9 for Warriors Cause]]>Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:40:27 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/hfc-donates-to-k9-for-warriors-cause

The Highland-Fayette-Clinton (HFC) Safety Council welcomed CPT. Louis “Louie” A. Belluomini and Star-K9 as the featured speaker at their 2019 CEO Luncheon held in Washington Court House on June 17th.

Louie and Star presented on “PTSD Awareness & What to Know About Service Dogs” to a captive audience of business leadership representing the tri-county area. Included in the presentation was an excerpt from the Emmy Award-winning documentary, “A New Leash on Life: The K9s for Warriors Story,” which features Louie and Star’s story.

Louie served in the Army for 9 years, where he worked as a psychological operations specialist and military police officer. He was honorably discharged as a Captain in 2015 after serving a tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Louie suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a traumatic brain injury after his deployments, and pursued a treatment plan involving a k9 when medication or counseling didn’t completely solve the issues or failed.

Louie and Star were paired together by K9s for Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of service dogs to military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma as a result of military service post-9/11. Star, a 2-year-old golden retriever lab mix, and Louie are never apart and she performs tasks for Louie that he cannot do on his own.

Louie has worked as a paramedic in the local communities for the past 10 years, and currently works at Hanco EMS in Findlay, Ohio, and as a paramedic at Putnam County EMS in Ottawa, Ohio. Star also works on the ambulance with him and is the first dog in the country to actively work on an ambulance with her handler. Since Star works on the ambulance, she is also cross trained to track and search for people in case they have a lost victim they respond to.

The HFC Safety Council was proud to make a $1500 donation in Louie and Star’s honor to the K9s for Warriors program. Learn more about the program at: www.k9sforwarriors.org.

]]><![CDATA[2017 Safety Innovation Award Applications]]>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 18:22:14 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/2017-safety-innovation-award-applicationsInnovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. – Steve Jobs

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is accepting applications from Ohio employers for the 2017 Safety Innovation Awards.

Innovations must demonstrate reduction in safety or ergonomic risk factors, or occupational health exposures.

Cash awards up to $6,000. Apply by September 30, 2016.

Eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at www.bwc.ohio.gov. Click on Safety Services, then Safety Innovation Awards.]]><![CDATA[For Highland County Members: ]]>Mon, 28 Dec 2015 19:05:28 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/for-highland-county-membersContacts for the Employer Management Unit, Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) Portsmouth, Ohio
Employer Service Specialist Department
What is an Employer Service Specialist (ESS)? - They are your main point of contact to find out what discount programs are available for your company, due dates for enrolled discount programs, consultation of how BWC Premiums are established and a great starting point for general questions the BWC services. The counties covered by the Portsmouth Service Office are divided within the ESS Department.

Wendy Queen, ESS- 740-353-4205
Wendy.Q.1@bwc.state.oh.us
-Ross, Adams, Lawrence and Jackson

Angela Castle, ESS- 740-353-5311
Angela.C.12@bwc.state.oh.us
-Scioto, Pike, Gallia and Highland

Safety Department
What is the Safety Department? The Safety Professionals below cover all the counties of the Portsmouth Service Office with respect to their individual safety specialty or assistance with the $40,000 Safety Intervention Grant. They are non-regulatory, so they will not report any safety assistance provided to any regulatory system. The services are provided at no additional cost to the employer. This is part of the services provided with the BWC Premiums the employer pays.

Shane Mougey, Industrial Safety Consultant Specialist- 614-769-2909- Clinton.M.1@bwc.state.oh.us
Services provided: Facility/operational assessments, safety management assessment, project facilitation, onsite training, and safety team development/enhancement.
· Industrial safety consultation/Construction safety consultation - Assessments and advice related to machine guarding, electrical safety, lockout/tag-out, powered industrial trucks, cranes and hoists, welding, slips/trips/falls and other workplace/jobsite hazards.

Greg Nartker, Ergonomist- 614-562-5895- Gregory.N.1@bwc.state.oh.us
Services provided: Operational assessments, safety management assessment, project facilitation, on-site training, process development and Return-to-work development and training.
· Ergonomics consultation – Assessments and advice related to manual material handling, lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying tasks, repetitive hand-intensive work, sedentary work, awkward work postures and other physical stressors.

Devin Keplinger, Industrial Hygienist- 614-562-5857- Devin.K.1@bwc.state.oh.us
Services provided: Air sampling, noise sampling, physical hazard assessment, safety management assessment, project facilitation, on-site training, and process development
· Industrial hygiene consultation – Assessments of airborne contaminants, noise levels, IAQ investigations, confined space assessment, hearing protection programs, respiratory protection programs and thermal stress along with advice on how to reduce employee exposures.]]><![CDATA[SAVE THE DATE: ]]>Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:57:19 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/save-the-date

]]><![CDATA[Now accepting Credit Cards for monthly lunch payments!]]>Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:53:41 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/now-accepting-credit-cards-for-monthly-lunch-payments
Beginning September 2nd, we will be accepting credit cards as well as cash and checks for monthly lunch payments.

Don't want to mess with money and receipts each month? No problem! For your convenience, we will be accepting pre-payments for lunch during the 2015/2016 HFC Safety Council year.

Please complete the below form so that we can invoice your company accordingly. Contact 937-382-2737 or info@hfcsafetycouncil.com with any questions.

SUBMIT YOUR INVOICE REQUEST HERE]]><![CDATA[HFC Donates $1,000.00 to Maria's Message]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2015 18:00:13 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/hfc-donates-100000-to-marias-message

On Tuesday, September 9th, Safety Council Manager Dessie Buchanan and Roger Blackburn, Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, presented a donation of $1,000.00 from the HFC Safety Council to the Maria Tiberi Foundation.

The Foundation was created by Dom Tiberi, Columbus sportscaster, following the fatal crash of his 21 year old daughter, Maria, in September 2013. The goal of the Foundation is to bring the dangerous issue of distracted driving to the forefront, specifically targeted to new drivers as "11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash." (Source)

The donation from the Safety Council will assist the Foundation to purchase distracted driving simulator machines to help raise awareness among drivers as to the dangers and challenges of distracted driving. The simulators will be available for participants to use so more people can get a first hand understanding of the dangers of distracted driving.

For more information on "Maria's Message," visit http://www.mariatiberifoundation.org/

]]><![CDATA[CONGRATULATIONS 2015 SAFETY AWARD RECIPIENTS: ]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2015 17:53:47 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/congratulations-2015-safety-award-recipientsCONGRATULATIONS SAFETY AWARD RECIPIENTS:

100%: Zero injuries or illnesses resulting in a day or more away from work in the previous calendar year
Clinton Memorial Hospital-Wilmington Physicians; Community Action Commission of Fayette; DOMTAR; Elmore Mgmt. Group, Inc.; Fayette County Chamber of Commerce; Flagway Inc.; Groves Tire Service LLC; Highland County Chamber of Commerce; Highland County Community Action; Highland County District Library; Highland District Hospital; Hillsboro Transportation Co.; Hi-Tech Electrical Contractors, LLC; Hospice of Fayette County; Huhtamaki; JBG Elmore Investments; Mid Atlantic Storage Systems Inc.; Ohio Valley Environmental Engineering, Inc.; Ohio Valley Truss Company; PC Connection, Inc.; Pennant Molding Inc.; Ralph Bloom Trucking LLC; S and S Janitorial Service; Southern Ohio Educational Service Center; Thad Hollon Trucking, Inc.; Tom Pitzer Trucking, LLC; Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC; Village of Blanchester; Village of Greenfield; W and W Dry Cleaners and Laundry Service; Waddell Manufacturing; and Weller's Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

GROUP: Lowest Incident Rate In Each Group
Highland District Hospital; Huhtamaki; Mid Atlantic Storage Systems Inc.; PC Connection, Inc.; and Pennant Molding Inc.

SPECIAL: at least 500,000 hours and at least six months without an injury resulting in a day or more away from work
City of Hillsboro; Flagway Inc.; Highland District Hospital; Huhtamaki; PAS Technologies; PC Connection, Inc.; Southern Ohio Educational Service Center; Universal Forest Products Inc; Village of Blanchester; and YUSA Corporation

ACHEIVEMENT: 25-percent reduction in incident rate from the previous year
Candle-Lite; City of Washington Courthouse; City of Wilmington; Community Action Commission of Fayette; Community Care Hospice; Fayette County Commissioners; Highland District Hospital; Hospice of Fayette County; Mason Company; Pennant Molding Inc.; Village of Greenfield; Waddell Manufacturing; Weller's Plumbing & Heating, Inc.; Wilmington Nursing & Rehab; and YUSA Corporation
]]><![CDATA[March 03rd, 2015]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2015 17:25:55 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/march-03rd-2015

]]><![CDATA[Can your business survive an OSHA inspection? ]]>Tue, 04 Nov 2014 18:59:21 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/can-your-business-survive-an-osha-inspectionOSHA is very active and they have significantly increased the number of inspections,
citations and penalties. OSHA is cracking down even more. Beginning January 2015 if your company has an employee who is injured and has to be admitted to the
Hospital for treatment you will have to notify OSHA within 24 hours. This will result in many more companies being subjected to an OSHA inspection.

Join us for this free 1/2 day seminar for a great opportunity to become familiar with the following:
* Which companies could be targeted?
* Why OSHA could show up at your door
* The things you need to know before an OSHA Inspection
* What to do in case of an OSHA Inspection
* Your rights under the OSHA Act

Attendance at this seminar qualifies for BWC group rating two hour training credit and provides one safety council rebate program external training credit with
submission of the certificate of attendance to your local sponsor.

Dates and Locations:

* November 6, 2014 Akron, Ohio
* November 18, 2014 Hamilton, Ohio
* December 9, 2014 Columbus, Ohio

REGISTER FOR THE OSHA SEMINAR HERE

]]><![CDATA[BWC announces New Rules & Prizes for Safety Innovations Competition!]]>Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:16:25 GMThttp://www.hfcsafetycouncil.com/blog/bwc-announces-new-rules-prizes-for-safety-innovations-competitionThe Safety Innovations Competition is getting a face-lift this year with new rules and new prizes. For those of you not aware of this competition, 2015 will be our fourth annual Safety Innovations Competition! This competition encourages and recognizes development of innovative solutions that help to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.

New this year, we’re opening the Safety Innovations Competition to all employers with a BWC policy number, regardless of their application or receipt of a Safety Intervention Grant. Plus, we’ve taken it one step further by allowing self-insured and public employers to participate, too.

We’ll invite the top five entries to display their innovation at the 2015 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo (OSC15) where we’ll award them with cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $7,000!

Spread the word to employers you may encounter in your daily work. Maybe you know of one that got a safety grant, worked with one to create an innovative safety solution to a work process, or you just heard about a company at safety council that might have done something innovative to make their workplace safer. Encourage them to enter!

Application/Deadline

Click here to learn more about the competition and access the online application. Employers must complete the online application by Oct. 31, 2014.

A bit about the process

A committee of Safety & Hygiene representatives will review applications and select 10 semi-finalists. The committee will then conduct onsite visits to the 10 semi-finalists to see the innovations. From those visits the committee will select five finalists to display their innovation at OSC15 and give a presentation to a panel of three independent judges.

The finalists will be scored on the criteria below.

·         Risk reduction – reduction in hazards, exposures and/or risk factors

·         Innovation – amount of creativity employed in the development, approach or application of occupational injury/illness prevention/control measures

·         Cost savings – return on investment/potential savings from the reduction in injuries/illnesses and other operational costs

·         Potential impact – potential for use/implementation by other businesses and entities

·         Presentation quality – clear definition of the problem, solution and impact

Any questions can be sent to: SafetyInnovations@bwc.ohio.gov. A logo and flyer are attached in case you’d like to promote this initiative on your organization’s website or newsletter.

Spread the word and help us recognize and award Ohio’s most innovative and creative companies.

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