Monday, December 15, 2014
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Three Mahoning Valley companies recently received safety intervention grants from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
In September, Caprice Health Care Center in North Lima was approved for a $40,000 grant. In October, Calcutta Health Care Center in East Liverpool was also approved for a $40,000 grant and McDonald Steel Corp. in McDonald was approved for a $40,000 grant.
Overall, the bureau approved 118 safety intervention grants for Ohio employers to total $3,499,148 in September and October.
“The items employers are purchasing with these grants can help automate processes to improve productivity and make their workers’ jobs safer,” said Steve Buehrer, the bureau’s administrator and chief executive officer.
Calcutta and Caprice, both under CHCC Health Care Centers, were approved for the grants to purchase beds to reduce injury.
Caprice and Calcutta’s grants will go toward the purchase of 60 electric beds at each of the long-term care nursing facilities, according to the bureau. Officials at the health care facilities could not be reached to comment.
McDonald Steel’s grant will go toward the purchase of one straightener stacking system to reduce the risk of injury. This will automate the process of straightening, stacking and bundling material and reduce the amount of physical labor involved with this process. McDonald Steel manufacturers hot-rolled steel shapes, parts and components.
A representative from McDonald Steel was not available to comment.
Ohio private and public employers are eligible for safety intervention grants, which include a 3-to-1 matching amount up to a maximum of $40,000.