The Industrial Commission (IC) of Ohio conducts over 180,000 hearings annually and most of these hearings take place within 45 days of the original claim appeal. Since 1912, the IC has been resolving issues between parties who have a dispute in a workers’ compensation claim.
Hearings on disputed claims are conducted at three levels within the Commission: the district level, the staff level, and the Commission level. The Governor appoints the three-member Commission and the Ohio Senate confirms these appointments. By previous vocation, employment or affiliation, one member must represent employees, one must represent employers and one must represent the public. The executive director manages the agency’s day-to-day operations.
While BWC is responsible for collecting workers’ compensation insurance premiums, overseeing the insurance system, and paying out compensable claims, the IC is responsible for:
- Providing a forum for fair and impartial claims resolution
- Conducting hearings on disputed claims
- Adjudicating claims involving an employer’s violation of specific safety requirements
- Determining eligibility for permanent total disability benefits
The IC’s independence from BWC allows it to more fairly adjudicate disputes over those benefits.