The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has announced that the maximum workers' compensation benefit rate for an injury that occurs in 2010 will be $775.00 per week. The maximum rate for a 2009 injury was $767.00. Thus, this year's increase was just $9.00.  In comparison, the Pennsylvania weekly maximum compensation rate for 2010 is $845.00.  The 2010 Michigan maximum compensation rate is $746.00 per week; which is actually a $7.00 reduction from their 2009 maximum rate of $752.00 per week.
 

We at Polofka & Van Berkom, LLC. wish to take this time to Honor our nation's veterans and their families.  We appreciate the service and sacrifice these heros have made for all of us! 

The Northwest Ohio service offices of the Industrial Commission of Ohio are currently staffed by a total of ten hearing officers.  Toledo currently has four District Hearing Officers (DHO); while Lima has one DHO assigned to that office. A District Hearing Officer is assigned to decide initial appeals from decisions of the BWC and self-insured employers. 

There are four Staff Hearing Officers (SHO) currently in Toledo; while Lima has a single SHO.   A Staff Hearing Officer will hear appeals from an District Hearing Officer decision, as well as other issues such as permanent total disability (PTD).  An SHO decision is appealable to the commissioners of the Industrial Commission.  Frequently, hearing officers will travel to different regional offices to conduct hearings as personnel and caseload requires.  

Effective August 21, 2009, the Industrial Commission of Ohio has merged its Bridgeport and Zanesville offices into a new location in Cambridge, Ohio.  After August 21, 2009, all workers' compensation hearings previously conducted in the Bridgeport and Zanesville locations will be heard in the new Cambridge hearing location.  The Industrial Commission of Ohio claims the merger will result in an annual cost reduction to the agency of $260,000.  No personnel cuts will be made by the merger of the two locations.