Ohio Workers' Compensation Guide:
Administrative Agencies
There are two agencies involved in the Ohio workers' compensation
system: the Ohio Bureau
of Workers' Compensation and the Ohio
Industrial Commission.The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation handles the administrative functions of the Ohio workers' compensation system. The Bureau has limited decision making powers, mainly related to the initial allowance of a claim. The Bureau handles the processing of claims and the payment of money. The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is headed by an "Administrator", who is appointed by the Governor.
The majority of the decision-making functions in the workers' compensation system are handled by the Industrial Commission. The Industrial Commission is responsible for decision-making when there is a contested issue in a claim.
There are three levels of decision-making in the Industrial Commission: District Hearing Officers (DHO), Staff Hearing Officers (SHO), and a three member board called the Industrial Commission. The three-member Industrial Commission also sets policy for the Commission.
If a party is not happy with a decision, an appeal can be filed. Appeals from the DHO are heard by the SHO. An SHO decision may be appealed to the three member Industrial Commission, but very few appeals are heard by the Industrial Commission itself.