Every employee who experiences a workplace injury/illness deserves a personalized approach to assist them with recovery and their return to work. Managers set the tone for how the injured employees experience the Workers’ Compensation program. Understanding the basics of the program and the steps involved allows you, the manager, to engage with the employee with more confidence and alleviate fears and concerns. Managers are invited to contact Risk Management to learn more about workplace safety.
Responding to a Workplace Injury/Illness
Serious lacerations, loss of consciousness or life-threating injuries (among others) require immediate transportation by ambulance to the nearest hospital
The below Injury Response Chart assists supervisors in identifying types of injuries/illnesses and the recommended response for each instance.
| Type of Injury/Illness | Serious Injury/Illness | Medical Only Injury/Illness | First Aid Only Injury/Illness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples |
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| Response |
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Supervisor’s Responsibilities
- Show compassion for the employee's well-being right away.
- Complete the Supervisor’s First Report (keep a copy for your records) and notify Workers’ Compensation (ext. 73939) of the incident
- Confirm the employee received a copy of a Workers Compensation (DWC-1) Form. Printable versions of the form are available.
- Advise employees to seek treatment right away at a Designated Medical Clinic if it is not serious or first-aid:
- Work with Risk Management for the employee to be issued medical treatment authorization
- Management should not transport employees to a medical clinic unless they have been formally advised. Contact Workers' Compensation (ext. 73939) if an employee needs transportation to a medical clinic
- Advise your administrator of the workplace injury without sharing personal information about the employee.
Submit the Incident Report within 3 calendar days of the incident.
How is the Incident Report different from the Supervisor's First Report?
- Looks at the "How"
- Captures witness statements (if applicable)
- Identifies the root cause(s)
- Encourages action items to prevent recurrence
Incident ReportIncident Report DashboardTemplate: Incident Report
- Advise your administrator of the root cause of the injury and lessons learned that will prevent reoccurrence. The lessons learned should also be shared with other colleagues to integrate safety throughout campus operations. Remember personal medical details and the name of the employee is private health information.
- Maintain regular contact with the injured employee but be sure to refrain from discussing work responsibilities.
- Provide Workers’ Compensation with the work status (doctor's note) and provide updated statuses when they expire.
- Review the employee's position description for modified duty options and work with Workers’ Compensation to implement transitional work as needed.
- Inform the employee that transitional work options are available that will follow medical restrictions when possible.
- Provide Workers’ Compensation with a copy of the employee's return to work date and work status supporting an employee's return to work.
- Work with Workers’ Compensation to review modified duty options and set up an appointment with the employee to confirm their understanding of the modifications
- Periodically check-in with the employee to assess the return-to-work transition.