Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the Ohio BWC’s announcement of $30 million in grants for research and development of personal protective equipment (PPE) innovations to enhance workplace safety.
The BWC’s new Workforce Safety Innovation Center (WSIC) will administer the grants with a goal of accelerating the process for innovations from proof-of-concept to the marketplace. The WSIC will be using data collected from BWC claims to identify areas of focus for cutting-edge technologies and products that will reduce the frequency and severity of on-the-job injuries. The WSIC’s overall objective is to conduct proof-of-concept work from grant applicants to accelerate the creation of new technologies and applications for the prototyping of PPE innovations. Sandi Golden-Vest, who joined BWC in November 2021, will be leading the WSIC.