We established the Safety Innovation Awards to encourage and recognize innovative solutions that reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses. Preventing harm benefits everyone - employers and employees alike. Showcasing the most successful innovations helps other Ohio employers in their safety efforts and can inspire them to develop innovative solutions of their own.

2018 award winners

1st Place ($6,000)
Navistar (Springfield) - Cab destructive weld tear down
An articulating arm that holds a worker's pneumatic tool during weld tear down of trauck cabs; it reduces the potential of falling, bad postures, and awkward positions due to high reaction forces on employees during the process

2nd Place ($4,000) and People's Choice ($1,000)
MPW Industrial Services (Hebron) - M1-RV crawler
A remote-controlled vacuuming system that cleans clarifier tanks; it eliminates employee exposure from hazards of entering and cleaning clarifier tanks

3rd Place ($3,000)
Terracon Consultants Inc. (Cincinnati) - YM3000 pin puller
A redesigner T-handle that is adjustable in height and allows employees to remain standing when pulling 28-inch pins (used for soil density readings) from the ground; it decreases the potential of back or wrist strains from pin pulling, helps reduce fatigue and increases productivity

Honorable Mention ($1,500)
Ramco Electric Motors (Greenville) - Aluminum die-casting automated biscuit return
A conveyor system that delivers aluminum die-casting byproducts (aka "biscuits") from the casting machine back to the 1,300-degree liquid aluminum bath; the system eliminates the exposures of an individual performing the task of dropping the biscuits back in the crucible

Eligibility requirements
Ohio employers must meet all the criteria below to apply.

• Implemented an effective, innovative solution to improve an occupational safety or health issue between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30, 2016, and using it
• Have an Ohio BWC policy number
• Maintain active workers' compensation coverage with not more than 40 days lapsed in the prior 12 months
• Be current on all monies owed BWC

Questions
Submit questions to Innovations, or call 1-800-644-6292.