Throughout the year, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) offers financial incentives to qualifying employers who implement a Drug-Free Safety Program (DFSP) (yes, free money!). By way of background, the BWC’s DFSP grant is available to eligible Ohio employers who develop a safety program to address workplace use and misuse of drugs and alcohol. The DFSP Grant offers a financial incentive—by way of reimbursement—to help employers offset the costs of implementing DFSP compliant programs. The BWC’s DFSP Grant recognizes a variety of eligible employers, whether your organization is in the process of implementing either a basic or advanced DFSP program. Below you will find an overview of employer eligibility, available reimbursements, and the application process to receive DFSP grant funds (a.k.a. free money!).

Who is eligible?

There is no catch, but there is an eligibility requirement. Important requirements include:

• Participation in a DFSP;
• Be a state-funded insured or private insured employer;
• Have active workers’ compensation insurance—which remains active throughout the entirety of the DFSP program;
• Remain current on any payments due to the BWC; and
• Have completed a true-up for the preceding policy year and paid premiums.

If your organization does not meet all of the above eligibility requirements, or you just are not sure how the requirements apply to you, it is worth reaching out to legal counsel for a full review of your organization’s eligibility. Nevertheless, check out this next section on the potential haul on reimbursement funds.

What is eligible for reimbursement?

Provided your organization is an eligible employer (fingers crossed!), there are several reimbursements available. Reimbursements include legal fees associated with DFSP program implementation, or a variety of employee education, and yes, even supervisor training. Yes, that is right (!), the BWC will reimburse an employer—up to a certain amount—simply for implementing a compliant DFSP program and for training your workforce. Now, let us discuss the interesting part—how much can you get.

• Up to $750 for a written DFSP policy reviewed by an attorney.
• Up to $500 for an educational webinar by a qualified substance professional
• Up to $2,000 for a mandatory online webinar requiring all employees to pass a quiz.
• Up to $750 for training a qualifying employee conducted by a qualified substance professional. 
• Up to $600 for training each DFSP employer’s supervisor(s).
• Up to $1,200 for a refreshed online training with a quiz.
• Up to $300 for a refreshed webinar given by a qualified substance professional.

Where to start?

Believe it or not, the BWC has made applying for the grant simple! After a few short steps—registration, payment information, and completion of form(s)—you are ready to apply for your free money. Finally, you are eligible to apply for grant money more than once, provided your organization is eligible and your request for reimbursement is approved.

For more information about eligibility and reimbursements available under the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Drug-Free Safety Program Grant, contact Amy E. Flowers or the Workplace Solutions lawyer with whom you most frequently work.

This publication is intended for general information purposes only and does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. The reader should consult with legal counsel to determine how laws or decisions discussed herein apply to the reader's specific circumstances.