Filing a Workers' Comp Claim in Ohio

A claim for an injury or death is barred unless, within one year after the injury or death, written or fax notice of the specific body parts injured (or of the death) is given to BWC or the Industrial Commission, or certain other events occur (such as the employer paying wages in place of compensation, or a self-insured employer furnishing treatment). BWC may also accept a claim by phone. For occupational diseases arising on or after Sept. 28, 2021, BWC says the claim must be filed within one year after death or one year from the latest of: first medical diagnosis as work-related, first treatment, or first quitting work due to the disease (or within six months after a physician diagnoses it as work-related).

A worker, employer, medical provider or authorized representative can file a First Report of Injury, Occupational Disease or Death (FROI) with BWC online, by mail, by fax to 866-336-8352, or by calling BWC at 800-644-6292. A medical provider may file online or submit it to the employer's managed care organization (MCO). Claims with seven or fewer missed days are medical-only; eight or more missed days make it a lost-time claim.

A BWC order on a disputed claim can be appealed within 14 days of receipt; the Industrial Commission refers it to a district hearing officer. The district hearing officer's order can be appealed within 14 days to a staff hearing officer, and that order within 14 days to the commission, which decides whether to hear it. A final commission decision (other than one about the extent of disability) can be appealed to the court of common pleas within 60 days of receipt.

Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) takes the First Report of an Injury, Occupational Disease or Death (FROI) online; it can be submitted on behalf of the injured worker or on behalf of the employer, with supporting documents uploaded (.pdf, .jpg, .tif). Questions: 1-800-644-6292. Self-insuring employers are not required to report medical-only claims to BWC.