Columbus, OH — More than $41 million in workplace safety grants is available to employers in Ohio from the state’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
BWC’s Safety Grants program assists employers across various industries in purchasing equipment to help reduce their risk of workplace injury and develop a culture of safety and well-being for employees.
Throughout fiscal year 2026, the program is accepting applications for a wide range of grants. Among them:
Safety Intervention Grant: Helps employers purchase equipment to reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses related to their workers’ job tasks. The program is open to public or private employers with active BWC policies. Recipients can receive $3 in matching grant money for every $1 they contribute – up to a maximum $40,000 – for each three-year eligibility cycle.
Workplace Wellness Grant: Aids employers in the promotion of training and programs that improve worker health and safety. Private and public employers with active BWC policies and state-fund employers are eligible. Grant awardees can receive $300 per participating employee over a four-year period, up to a maximum $15,000 per policy.
Body Armor Grant: Assists law enforcement organizations in acquiring funds for body armor vests needed for protection on the job. Law enforcement organizations and public employers are eligible for up to $40,000.
Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant: Helps protect firefighters from exposure to dangerous environmental elements while responding to emergencies. Eligible groups include fire departments and employers who employ eligible firefighters. Grants of up to $15,000 are available for each three-year eligibility cycle.
BWC also has a program that provides funds for school staff safety.
“There is no fixed submission deadline within the fiscal year,” BWC says on its Safety Grants FAQ webpage. “Applications are reviewed and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds for that fiscal year have been committed.”
