All such employers are required to obtain workers' compensation coverage.
Independent contractors are responsible for obtaining their own workers' compensation coverage.
An employer must be careful, however, to ensure that persons performing work for them are truly independent contractors before relying upon this exception. All employers must either participate in the state insurance fund or be self-insured. The privilege of self-insurance is restricted to employers having more than 500 employees, who have done business in Ohio for more than two years, and who can demonstrate to the Administrator of the BWC that they have sufficient financial wherewithal to satisfy and pay workers' compensation costs directly. State Fund employers do have the option of participating in workers' compensation group rating programs which, in many cases, will substantially decrease their workers' compensation costs. In general, employers who comply with the law by paying workers' compensation premiums are not liable for damages for any injuries sustained by an employee on the job.