Ohio Administrative Code

(A) Evidence and discovery.(1) In every instance the evidence shall be of sufficient quantum and probative value to establish the jurisdiction of the commission to consider the claim and determine the rights of the injured worker to an award. Evidence may be presented by affidavi…

(A) An application from an injured worker for lump sum payment for attorney's fees is to contain a certification, executed by the attorney, listing the services rendered, all fees received prior to the filing of the application for services in obtaining the award under which the …

When the bureau or the commission orders an injured worker or claimant to submit to medical examination and the injured worker or claimant refuses to be examined, or in any way obstructs the examination, the injured worker's or claimant's claim for compensation and benefits shall…

(A) In the event there is a dispute or disagreement between the injured worker or an eligible applicant and the self-insuring employer that concerns a contested claims matter, the claim shall be referred to the commission for hearing.(B) Upon receipt of a notice of a dispute or d…

(A) Definitions(1) For purpose of this rule, both an application for the determination of percentage of permanent partial disability and an application for an increase in the percentage of permanent partial disability will be referred to as an "application."(2) For purpose of thi…

(A) Form C-86 motion or its equivalent shall be used to request action from the bureau or commission.(B) A motion may be submitted by the claimant or the employer to seek a determination by the bureau or the commission on any matter not otherwise provided for in Chapter 4121-3 of…

(A) Parties may, of their own volition, file briefs with the bureau or commission on legal questions presented in claims.(B) The bureau or commission may require parties to file briefs on legal questions presented in claims. The hearing officer shall fix a time certain for the fi…

(A) This rule applies to administrative appeals filed to district hearing officers, staff hearing officers, and the commission under section 4123.511 of the Revised Code.(B) Filing requirements for administrative appeals.(1) Appeals may be filed electronically with the commission…

Where reference is made to designated forms in these rules, such reference shall be to the form as it exists at the time of the adoption of these rules and as such form may be revised in the future. Last updated February 18, 2026 at 8:09 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Five Year…

(A) For claims arising before September 15, 2020, an application for an additional award of compensation founded upon the claim that the injury, occupational disease, or death resulted from the failure of the employer to comply with the specific requirement for the protection of …

(A) To effect a change of address, an employee shall file a signed request for such change, which request shall indicate the former address as well as the new address. When the change of address has been effected, the request for change shall be incorporated in the applicable cla…

(A) Authorizations for representation shall be in writing and signed by the authorizing party. When the authorization is on behalf of the injured worker, there shall be a separate authorization filed with the bureau for each claim to which the authorization is to extend, and the …

(A) The commission may inquire into the amounts of fees charged by attorneys, agents or representatives of the parties for services in matters before the commission and shall protect parties against unfair fees. Attorney fees shall be based upon:(1) The time and labor required.(2…

(A) Eligibility for a change of occupation allowance:(1) Where it is found that a change of occupation is medically advisable for an employee suffering from silicosis, coal miners' pneumoconiosis or asbestosis contracted in the course of employment but not totally disabled theref…

Failure to adhere to the rules of the commission may be a ground for reversal of an order or decision. Last updated February 18, 2026 at 8:10 AM Authorized By: 4121.30, 4121.31 Amplifies: 4121.36 Five Year Review Date: 1/30/2031 Prior Effective Dates: 1/1/1964, 6/1/2008

(A) A hearing will be deemed an emergency hearing where a party is undergoing severe financial hardship due to immediate foreclosure actions, eviction notices, shutoff notices for gas, electric, or water, or a party to a claim is in dire need of emergency medical treatment, and t…

(A) Effective August 22, 1986, an employee who voluntarily participates in an employer's sponsored recreation or fitness program or activity may waive and relinquish all rights to workers' compensation benefits pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 4123.01 of the Revised Code.(B…

(A) The following provisions shall apply to all claims where the date of injury or the date of disability in occupational disease claims accrued on or after August 22, 1986. The following definitions shall be applicable to this rule:(1) "Maximum medical improvement" is a treatmen…

(A) PurposeThe purpose of this rule is to ensure that applications for compensation for permanent total disability are processed and adjudicated in a fair and timely manner. This rule applies to the adjudication of all applications for compensation for permanent total disability …

For the purposes of this chapter of the Administrative Code:(A) "Access" as a noun means an instance of copying, viewing, or otherwise perceiving, whereas "access" as a verb means to copy, view, or otherwise perceive.(B) "Acquisition of a new computer system" means the purchase o…

For personal information systems, whether manual or computer systems that contain confidential personal information, the commission shall do the following:(A) Criteria for accessing confidential personal information. Personal information systems of the commission are managed on a…

Pursuant to the requirements of division (B)(2) of section 1347.15 of the Revised Code, this rule contains a list of valid reasons, directly related to the commission's exercise of its powers or duties, for which only employees of the commission may access confidential personal i…

The following federal and state regulations, statutes, and administrative rules make personal information maintained by the commission confidential and identify the confidential personal information within the scope of rules promulgated by this agency in accordance with section 1…

For personal information systems that are computer systems and contain confidential personal information, the commission shall do the following:(A) Access restrictions. Access to confidential personal information that is kept electronically shall require a password or other authe…

(A) All business transactions of the workers' compensation board shall be conducted at public meetings in accordance with section 121.22 of the Revised Code. A schedule of meetings of the board shall be published in the various newsletters and publications of the bureau of worker…

(A) Pursuant to division (J) of section 4121.125 of the Revised Code, the administrator, with the advice and consent of the board, shall employ a chief internal auditor, who shall report findings directly to the board, the workers' compensation audit committee, and the administra…

For the purposes of administrative rules promulgated in accordance with section 1347.15 of the Revised Code, the following definitions apply:(A) "Access" as a noun means an opportunity to copy, view, or otherwise perceive whereas "access" as a verb means to copy, view, or otherwi…

For personal information systems, whether manual or computer systems, that contain confidential personal information, the bureau shall do the following:(A) Criteria for accessing confidential personal information. Personal information systems of the bureau are managed on a "need-…

Pursuant to the requirements of division (B)(2) of section 1347.15 of the Revised Code, this rule contains a list of valid reasons, directly related to the bureau's exercise of its powers or duties, for which only employees of the bureau may access confidential personal informati…

The following federal statutes or regulations or state statutes and administrative rules make personal information maintained by the bureau confidential and identify the confidential personal information within the scope of rules promulgated by the bureau in accordance with secti…

For personal information systems that are computer systems and contain confidential personal information, the bureau shall do the following:(A) Access restrictions. Access to confidential personal information that is kept electronically shall require a password or other authentic…

(A) An employer, as defined in division (B) of section 4123.01 of the Revised Code, that either fails to establish or maintain industrial coverage, or fails to make payments of premiums to the state insurance fund, as set forth by Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code and the rules o…

(A) Whenever the bureau of workers' compensation finds that an employer that was subject to division (B)(2) of section 4123.01 of the Revised Code failed to comply with the law in matters of workers' compensation coverage, the bureau shall notify the employer in writing of such a…

(A) The administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation, for good cause shown, may do any of the following:(1) Waive a default in the payment of premium by an employer where workers' compensation coverage has lapsed, if such a default is of less than sixty days duration. If …

(A) Upon the filing of a workers' compensation claim, naming a non-complying employer as the employer, the attorney general's office will prepare and the bureau will file for record in the office of the county recorder in any counties where the employer's property is located, if …

(A) A non-complying employer may apply to the administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation for settlement of its liability to the state insurance fund. The request shall:(1) Be submitted to the bureau by the employer concerned or by its duly authorized representative. The…

(A) The administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation may delegate the authority granted to the administrator under Chapters 4121., 4123., and 4131. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted by the bureau of workers' compensation for determining employer premium, assessmen…

This rule and rules 4123-15-02 to 4123-15-04 and 4121-15-01 to 4121-15-04 of the Administrative Code shall be titled, "Code of Ethics for the Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the Industrial Commission of Ohio" and shall contain the code of ethics for employees of these agencie…

h 119. PDF: (A) It is essential that the public has confidence in the administration of the industrial commission and the bureau of workers' compensation. This public confidence depends in a large degree on whether the public trusts that employees of these agencies are impartial,…

(A) Purpose.It is the policy of the industrial commission and the bureau of workers' compensation to carry out its mission in accordance with the strictest ethical guidelines and to ensure that commission and bureau employees conduct themselves in a manner that fosters public con…

(A) The code of ethics for employees of the bureau of workers' compensation and industrial commission shall be posted in a conspicuous place in every office of the bureau and commission, and will be posted electronically on the bureau's website.(B) A copy of this code of ethics s…

In accordance with division (C) of section 4121.122 of the Revised Code and division (B)(12) of section 4121.121 of the Revised Code, the rules numbered 4123-15-05 to 4123-15-09 and 4121-15-05 to 4121-15-09 of the Administrative Code are for the purpose of eliminating improper ou…

To the extent possible, all those who represent claimants or employers shall be furnished without charge with a copy of the "Code of Ethics of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the Industrial Commission of Ohio" and with a copy of the rules concerning the elimination of out…

Representatives of claimants and employers as well as their employees and agents shall conduct their business with the employees of the bureau of workers' compensation, and the industrial commission in accordance with the highest moral principles and are expected to support the "…

Upon receipt of information indicating a violation of rule 4123-15-07 of the Administrative Code, to ensure appropriate corrective action, the industrial commission or the administrator, as the case may be, shall take every action to ensure the matter is investigated, and, provid…

No employee shall access a workers' compensation claim file unless the file is necessary to the performance of the employee's duties. Any violation of this rule shall be referred to the chief legal counsel for the bureau of workers' compensation, the administrator or the industri…

(A) "Combination of systems" means a unification of systems that belong to more than one agency, or to an agency and another organization, into a single system in which the records that belong to each agency or organization may or may not be obtainable by the others.(B) "Computer…