Sylvania seeks workers' comp safety grant to buy aerial boom lift after forklift safety review

Sylvania staff told council on Dec. 15 they will apply for an Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Safety Intervention grant to subsidize purchase of an articulating aerial boom lift after a BWC representative raised safety concerns about a forklift man-basket used during holiday-decor removal.

Mister Shaw told council the BWC representative who visited downtown advised that man-basket attachments must be approved by the forklift manufacturer and that the citys older equipment did not have that approval. He said the city decommissioned the man basket and shopped for an articulating boom lift quoted at $55,850 from a vendor; if the grant is awarded the Bureau would contribute $40,000, leaving an estimated city net cost of about $15,000. Shaw emphasized the lift would serve multiple departments beyond parks and holiday work, including street and street-lighting activities.

Mister Murphy introduced Resolution 21 2025 authorizing the mayor and finance director to file the grant application as an emergency measure; council approved the filing by voice vote. Council members asked about the disposition of the decommissioned equipment and the lifts reach; staff said the boom lift would have an articulating reach of roughly 35 feet and is intended to improve safety and utility operations across departments.

If the grant application is successful, administrative staff will proceed with procurement and appropriation adjustments. The grant deadline was noted in the meeting as imminent; staff said the application was due Friday.