Ohio Workers' Compensation Laws

Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. Prompt reporting strengthens your claim.

File a First Report of Injury (FROI) with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation within 1 year of the injury date. Claims are processed through the BWC, not private insurers.

Ohio is one of only 4 states with a monopolistic state-fund system. All employers must obtain workers' compensation through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) or qualify as self-insured. There is no private insurance carrier option.

Temporary total disability benefits pay 72% of full weekly wage for the first 12 weeks, then 66 2/3% of average weekly wage. Benefits are subject to a statewide maximum and minimum and are limited to 226 weeks aggregate.

The injured worker selects their own treating physician within the BWC-certified provider network. Treatment is coordinated through Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) assigned to the employer under the Health Partnership Program, but the employee retains the right to choose their provider.

Employers cannot discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against an employee for filing a workers' comp claim. Remedies include reinstatement with back pay and reasonable attorney's fees. Must file within 180 days of the retaliatory action.