If a workplace safety improvement has been sitting on your organization’s wish list, it may be time to revisit it.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has reopened its Safety Grants Program, with more than $41 million available in fiscal year 2027 to help eligible Ohio employers invest in equipment and interventions designed to reduce workplace injuries.
The reopening is significant. BWC paused the program in March 2026 after overwhelming demand for grant funding. The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association has also highlighted the renewed availability of the grants, encouraging manufacturers considering safety investments to explore the opportunity.
What is the Safety Intervention Grant?
Ohio employers: Bureau of Workers’ Compensation safety grant dollars are back on the table with more than $41 million available in FY27.
One of the programs now accepting applications is BWC’s Safety Intervention Grant, which helps employers purchase equipment intended to reduce or eliminate workplace hazards.
Eligible employers may receive a three-to-one matching grant of up to $40,000 during each three-year eligibility cycle, meaning BWC can provide $3 for every $1 contributed by the employer toward an approved intervention.
Potential projects can include ergonomic equipment, mechanical lifting devices, machine guarding, material-handling solutions and other equipment designed to reduce injury risks.
For employers already considering these types of investments, the funding may help move a project from the wish list to implementation.
Start with the problem, not the purchase
Employers considering an application should begin with the workplace risk they are trying to solve.
Review injury history and safety data. Look for recurring problems or tasks that expose employees to potential injury. Then consider whether equipment or another engineering control could meaningfully reduce that risk.
A strong application should make a clear connection between the identified hazard and the proposed solution. Employers should be prepared to explain how the investment is expected to reduce injury frequency, severity or employee exposure.
It also makes sense to do the practical groundwork early: confirm BWC eligibility and account standing, research potential solutions, obtain necessary information from vendors and carefully review current program requirements before making purchasing decisions.
Why take a look now?
The program’s pause earlier this year demonstrates the level of employer interest in this funding. Now that applications have reopened, organizations with an identified safety need have another opportunity to determine whether a project may qualify.
That doesn’t mean rushing to submit an application. It means taking the time now to determine whether there is a strong fit between a workplace safety concern, an appropriate intervention and available BWC funding.
Even employers that ultimately decide not to apply can benefit from the exercise. Evaluating injury trends, employee exposure and potential safety improvements can uncover opportunities to reduce injuries, limit operational disruptions and strengthen workplace safety.
For Ohio employers with a safety investment already under consideration, this may be a particularly good time to move that conversation forward.
Employers interested in pursuing funding should review BWC’s current Safety Intervention Grant requirements carefully, including eligibility, allowable expenses and application procedures.
Ready to learn more or apply? Visit the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s Safety Intervention Grant page for current program information, requirements and application materials: https://info.bwc.ohio.gov/for-employers/safety-services/safety-grants/safety-intervention-grant
