Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Program (SUPR) formerly Drug Free Safety Program (DFSP)

Submitted By Paul Feck, Sedgewick on Thursday, 2/27/2025

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is merging the Drug Free Safety and Substance Use Recovery programs into a new, streamlined program called Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Program (SUPR). BWC made the changes to enhance and simplify overlapping programs into one integrated, unified program. The goal is to reduce customer confusion, increase program utilization, reduce customer paperwork, improve internal administrative efficiencies and streamline processes for both customers and BWC.

An overview of the changes include:

• DFSP Safety grants are replaced entirely with SUR grants

• DFSP participants are automatically eligible to request SUR grants

• Expands reimbursable expenses to include substance use assessments for employers with “second chance” policies

• Switches from a limited enrollment window to year-round rolling enrollments with the ability to earn pro rata premium bonus

• Eliminates requirements to file the Safety Management Self-Assessment (SH-26) and Safety Action Plan (DFSP-5) forms and requires filing of the Accident Report (DFSP-1) only for lost-time injuries

• Integrates the enrollment processes for DFSP and SUR into one application

• Moves SUR grant requests to an online format

• Creates an online “as-you-go” format to allow employers to upload annual report documents throughout the program period

• Provides an online employee and supervisor training option through BWC’s Learning Management System

The SUPR effective date for private employers is July 1, 2025.  The effective date for public employers is January 1, 2026. For more information on the SUPR program, click here.

If you have any questions, contact our Sedgwick program manager, Paul Feck at paul.feck@sedgwick.com.

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