Ohio § 4123.54

§ 4123.54.

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this division or divisions (I) and (K) of this section,

every employee, who is injured or who contracts an occupational disease, and the dependents

of each employee who is killed, or dies as the result of an occupational disease contracted

in the course of employment, wherever the injury has occurred or occupational disease

has been contracted, is entitled to receive the compensation for loss sustained on

account of the injury, occupational disease, or death, and the medical, nurse, and

hospital services and medicines, and the amount of funeral expenses in case of death,

as are provided by this chapter.  The compensation and benefits shall be provided, as applicable, directly from the

employee's self-insuring employer as provided in section 4123.35 of the Revised Code or from the state insurance fund.  An employee or dependent is not entitled to receive compensation or benefits under

this division if the employee's injury or occupational disease is either of the following: (1) Purposely self-inflicted; (2) Caused by the employee being intoxicated, under the influence of a controlled substance

not prescribed by a physician, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist,

or certified nurse practitioner, or under the influence of marihuana if being intoxicated,

under the influence of a controlled substance not prescribed by a physician, certified

nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse practitioner, or under

the influence of marihuana was the proximate cause of the injury. (B) For the purpose of this section, provided that an employer has posted written notice

to employees that the results of, or the employee's refusal to submit to, any chemical

test described under this division may affect the employee's eligibility for compensation

and benefits pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code, there

is a rebuttable presumption that an employee is intoxicated, under the influence of

a controlled substance not prescribed by the employee's physician, certified nurse-midwife,

clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse practitioner, or under the influence

of marihuana and that being intoxicated, under the influence of a controlled substance

not prescribed by the employee's physician, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse

specialist, or certified nurse practitioner, or under the influence of marihuana is

the proximate cause of an injury under either of the following conditions: (1) When any one or more of the following is true: (a) The employee, through a qualifying chemical test administered within eight hours

of an injury, is determined to have an alcohol concentration level equal to or in

excess of the levels established in divisions (A)(1)(b) to (i) of section 4511.19

of the Revised Code. (b) The employee, through a qualifying chemical test administered within thirty-two hours

of an injury, is determined to have a controlled substance not prescribed by the employee's

physician, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse

practitioner or marihuana in the employee's system at a level equal to or in excess

of the cutoff concentration level for the particular substance as provided in section 40.85 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations , 49 C.F.R. 40.85 , as it existed on January 1, 2024, or as subsequently amended as a result of a statute

or rule. (c) The employee, through a qualifying chemical test administered within thirty-two hours

of an injury, is determined to have barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or methadone in

the employee's system that tests above levels established by laboratories certified

by the United States department of health and human services. (2) When the employee refuses to submit to a requested chemical test, on the condition

that that employee is or was given notice that the refusal to submit to any chemical

test described in division (B)(1) of this section may affect the employee's eligibility

for compensation and benefits under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised

Code. (C)(1) For purposes of division (B) of this section, a chemical test is a qualifying chemical

test if it is administered to an employee after an injury under at least one of the

following conditions: (a) When the employee's employer had reasonable cause to suspect that the employee may

be intoxicated, under the influence of a controlled substance not prescribed by the

employee's physician, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or certified

nurse practitioner, or under the influence of marihuana; (b) At the request of a police officer pursuant to section 4511.191 of the Revised Code , and not at the request of the employee's employer; (c) At the request of a licensed physician, certified nurse-midwife, clinical nurse specialist,

or certified nurse practitioner who is not employed by the employee's employer, and

not at the request of the employee's employer. (2) As used in division (C)(1)(a) of this section, “ reasonable cause ” means, but is not limited to, evidence that an employee is or was using alcohol,

a controlled substance, or marihuana drawn from specific, objective facts and reasonable

inferences drawn from these facts in light of experience and training.  These facts and inferences may be based on, but are not limited to, any of the following: (a) Observable phenomena, such as direct observation of use, possession, or distribution

of alcohol, a controlled substance, or marihuana, or of the physical symptoms of being

under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or marihuana, such as but

not limited to slurred speech;  dilated pupils;  odor of alcohol, a controlled substance,

or marihuana;  changes in affect;  or dynamic mood swings; (b) A pattern of abnormal conduct, erratic or aberrant behavior, or deteriorating work

performance such as frequent absenteeism, excessive tardiness, or recurrent accidents,

that appears to be related to the use of alcohol, a controlled substance, or marihuana,

and does not appear to be attributable to other factors; (c) The identification of an employee as the focus of a criminal investigation into unauthorized

possession, use, or trafficking of a controlled substance or marihuana; (d) A report of use of alcohol, a controlled substance, or marihuana provided by a reliable

and credible source; (e) Repeated or flagrant violations of the safety or work rules of the employee's employer,

that are determined by the employee's supervisor to pose a substantial risk of physical

injury or property damage and that appear to be related to the use of alcohol, a controlled

substance, or marihuana and that do not appear attributable to other factors. (D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the rights of an employer to

test employees for alcohol or controlled substance abuse. (E) For the purpose of this section, laboratories certified by the United States department

of health and human services or laboratories that meet or exceed the standards of

that department for laboratory certification shall be used for processing the test

results of a qualifying chemical test. (F) The written notice required by division (B) of this section shall be the same size

or larger than the proof of workers' compensation coverage furnished by the bureau

of workers' compensation and shall be posted by the employer in the same location

as the proof of workers' compensation coverage or the certificate of self-insurance.  An employer may post the written notice required by division (B) of this section

on the internet in a manner that is accessible to the employer's employees. (G) If a condition that pre-existed an injury is substantially aggravated by the injury,

and that substantial aggravation is documented by objective diagnostic findings, objective

clinical findings, or objective test results, no compensation or benefits are payable

because of the pre-existing condition once that condition has returned to a level

that would have existed without the injury. (H)(1) Whenever, with respect to an employee of an employer who is subject to and has complied

with this chapter, there is possibility of conflict with respect to the application

of workers' compensation laws because the contract of employment is entered into and

all or some portion of the work is or is to be performed in a state or states other

than Ohio, the employer and the employee may agree to be bound by the laws of this

state or by the laws of some other state in which all or some portion of the work

of the employee is to be performed.  The agreement shall be in writing and shall be filed with the bureau of workers'

compensation within ten days after it is executed and shall remain in force until

terminated or modified by agreement of the parties similarly filed.  If the agreement is to be bound by the laws of this state and the employer has complied

with this chapter, then the employee is entitled to compensation and benefits regardless

of where the injury occurs or the disease is contracted and the rights of the employee

and the employee's dependents under the laws of this state are the exclusive remedy

against the employer on account of injury, disease, or death in the course of and

arising out of the employee's employment.  If the agreement is to be bound by the laws of another state and the employer has

complied with the laws of that state, the rights of the employee and the employee's

dependents under the laws of that state are the exclusive remedy against the employer

on account of injury, disease, or death in the course of and arising out of the employee's

employment without regard to the place where the injury was sustained or the disease

contracted.  If an employer and an employee enter into an agreement under this division, the

fact that the employer and the employee entered into that agreement shall not be construed

to change the status of an employee whose continued employment is subject to the will

of the employer or the employee, unless the agreement contains a provision that expressly

changes that status. (2) If an employee or the employee's dependents receive an award of compensation or benefits

under this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code for the same

injury, occupational disease, or death for which the employee or the employee's dependents

previously pursued or otherwise elected to accept workers' compensation benefits and

received a decision on the merits as defined in section 4123.542 of the Revised Code under the laws of another state or recovered damages under the laws of another state,

the claim shall be disallowed and the administrator or any self-insuring employer,

by any lawful means, may collect from the employee or the employee's dependents any

of the following: (a) The amount of compensation or benefits paid to or on behalf of the employee or the

employee's dependents by the administrator or a self-insuring employer pursuant to

this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code for that award; (b) Any interest, attorney's fees, and costs the administrator or the self-insuring employer

incurs in collecting that payment. (3) If an employee or the employee's dependents receive an award of compensation or benefits

under this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code and subsequently

pursue or otherwise elect to accept workers' compensation benefits or damages under

the laws of another state for the same injury, occupational disease, or death the

claim under this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code shall

be disallowed.  The administrator or a self-insuring employer, by any lawful means, may collect

from the employee or the employee's dependents or other-states' insurer any of the

following: (a) The amount of compensation or benefits paid to or on behalf of the employee or the

employee's dependents by the administrator or the self-insuring employer pursuant

to this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code for that award; (b) Any interest, costs, and attorney's fees the administrator or the self-insuring employer

incurs in collecting that payment; (c) Any costs incurred by an employer in contesting or responding to any claim filed

by the employee or the employee's dependents for the same injury, occupational disease,

or death that was filed after the original claim for which the employee or the employee's

dependents received a decision on the merits as described in section 4123.542 of the Revised Code . (4) If the employee's employer pays premiums into the state insurance fund, the administrator

shall not charge the amount of compensation or benefits the administrator collects

pursuant to division (H)(2) or (3) of this section to the employer's experience.  If the administrator collects any costs incurred by an employer in contesting or

responding to any claim pursuant to division (H)(2) or (3) of this section, the administrator

shall forward the amount collected to that employer.  If the employee's employer is a self-insuring employer, the self-insuring employer

shall deduct the amount of compensation or benefits the self-insuring employer collects

pursuant to this division from the paid compensation the self-insuring employer reports

to the administrator under division (L) of section 4123.35 of the Revised Code . (5) If an employee is a resident of a state other than this state and is insured under

the workers' compensation law or similar laws of a state other than this state, the

employee and the employee's dependents are not entitled to receive compensation or

benefits under this chapter, on account of injury, disease, or death arising out of

or in the course of employment while temporarily within this state, and the rights

of the employee and the employee's dependents under the laws of the other state are

the exclusive remedy against the employer on account of the injury, disease, or death. (6) An employee, or the dependent of an employee, who elects to receive compensation

and benefits under this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code

for a claim may not receive compensation and benefits under the workers' compensation

laws of any state other than this state for that same claim.  For each claim submitted by or on behalf of an employee, the administrator or, if

the employee is employed by a self-insuring employer, the self-insuring employer,

shall request the employee or the employee's dependent to sign an election that affirms

the employee's or employee's dependent's acceptance of electing to receive compensation

and benefits under this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code

for that claim that also affirmatively waives and releases the employee's or the employee's

dependent's right to file for and receive compensation and benefits under the laws

of any state other than this state for that claim.  The employee or employee's dependent shall sign the election form within twenty-eight

days after the administrator or self-insuring employer submits the request or the

administrator or self-insuring employer shall dismiss that claim. In the event a workers' compensation claim has been filed in another jurisdiction

on behalf of an employee or the dependents of an employee, and the employee or dependents

subsequently elect to receive compensation, benefits, or both under this chapter or

Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code, the employee or dependent shall

withdraw or refuse acceptance of the workers' compensation claim filed in the other

jurisdiction in order to pursue compensation or benefits under the laws of this state.  If the employee or dependents were awarded workers' compensation benefits or had

recovered damages under the laws of the other state, any compensation and benefits

awarded under this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code shall

be paid only to the extent to which those payments exceed the amounts paid under the

laws of the other state.  If the employee or dependent fails to withdraw or to refuse acceptance of the workers'

compensation claim in the other jurisdiction within twenty-eight days after a request

made by the administrator or a self-insuring employer, the administrator or self-insuring

employer shall dismiss the employee's or employee's dependents' claim made in this

state. (I) If an employee who is covered under the federal “Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation

Act,” 98 Stat. 1639, 33 U.S.C. 901 et seq., is injured or contracts an occupational disease or dies as a result of an injury

or occupational disease, and if that employee's or that employee's dependents' claim

for compensation or benefits for that injury, occupational disease, or death is subject

to the jurisdiction of that act, the employee or the employee's dependents are not

entitled to apply for and shall not receive compensation or benefits under this chapter

and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code.  The rights of such an employee and the employee's dependents under the federal “Longshore

and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act,” 98 Stat. 1639, 33 U.S.C. 901 et seq., are the exclusive remedy against the employer for that injury, occupational disease,

or death. (J) Compensation or benefits are not payable to a claimant or a dependent during the

period of confinement of the claimant or dependent in any state or federal correctional

institution, or in any county jail in lieu of incarceration in a state or federal

correctional institution, whether in this or any other state for conviction of violation

of any state or federal criminal law. (K) An employer, upon the approval of the administrator, may provide for workers' compensation

coverage for the employer's employees who are professional athletes and coaches by

submitting to the administrator proof of coverage under a league policy issued under

the laws of another state under either of the following circumstances: (1) The employer administers the payroll and workers' compensation insurance for a professional

sports team subject to a collective bargaining agreement, and the collective bargaining

agreement provides for the uniform administration of workers' compensation benefits

and compensation for professional athletes. (2) The employer is a professional sports league, or is a member team of a professional

sports league, and all of the following apply: (a) The professional sports league operates as a single entity, whereby all of the players

and coaches of the sports league are employees of the sports league and not of the

individual member teams. (b) The professional sports league at all times maintains workers' compensation insurance

that provides coverage for the players and coaches of the sports league. (c) Each individual member team of the professional sports league, pursuant to the organizational

or operating documents of the sports league, is obligated to the sports league to

pay to the sports league any workers' compensation claims that are not covered by

the workers' compensation insurance maintained by the sports league. If the administrator approves the employer's proof of coverage submitted under division

(K) of this section, a professional athlete or coach who is an employee of the employer

and the dependents of the professional athlete or coach are not entitled to apply

for and shall not receive compensation or benefits under this chapter and Chapter

4121. of the Revised Code.  The rights of such an athlete or coach and the dependents of such an athlete or

coach under the laws of the state where the policy was issued are the exclusive remedy

against the employer for the athlete or coach if the athlete or coach suffers an injury

or contracts an occupational disease in the course of employment, or for the dependents

of the athlete or the coach if the athlete or coach is killed as a result of an injury

or dies as a result of an occupational disease, regardless of the location where the

injury was suffered or the occupational disease was contracted.