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Filed under Risk Management on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 by Author: James Parker.
Workers' Compensation:
Workers’ Compensation is a state-regulated insurance program that pays reasonable and necessary medical costs if an employee is injured on the job. The program may pay income benefits to replace part of the wages an employee loses because of an on-the-job injury. It pays income benefits if an employee has a permanent impairment from an on-the-job injury. And it pays death benefits to an employee’s legal beneficiaries if he/she is killed on the job.
The Division of Workers’ Compensation within the Texas Department of Insurance administers this state program. The District provides Workers’ Compensations benefits to all of its employees. This benefit should not be taken lightly. Being state-regulated, all employees are subject to a fraud penalty.
Fraud is an administrative violation punishable by a penalty of up to $5,000. Fraud is committed if a person, with intent to obtain or deny payment of workers' compensation benefits for himself or another, knowingly or intentionally: makes a false or misleading statement, misrepresents or conceals a material fact, fabricates, alters, conceals, or destroys a document; or conspires to commit one of the above three acts. Fraud may also be prosecuted as a criminal act.
Procedures to follow when injured on-the-job:
An injury requiring emergency medical attention (Very serious injury, life threatening)
1. Immediately contact the Risk Management Department and report the accident or injury.
2. Try to make the injured employee as comfortable as possible.
3. Call 911.
4. Supervisor must complete three forms within 24 hours and send to the Risk Management Department: (1) The Employer's First Report of Injury or Illness (DWC-1), (2) The Accident Investigation/Claim Report, and (3) obtain the employee’s signature on The Authorization for Release of Information. All Risk Management forms can be downloaded from the District’s Intranet.
5. If an employee is off work due to an on-the-job injury, immediately notify the Risk Management Department.
For An Injury Requiring Medical Attention
1. Immediately contact the Risk Management Department and report the accident or injury.
2. Supervisor must complete three forms within 24 hours and send to the Risk Management Department: (1) The Employer's First Report of Injury or Illness (DWC-1), (2) The Accident Investigation/Claim Report, and (3) obtain the employee’s signature on The Authorization for Release of Information. All Risk Management forms can be downloaded from the District’s Intranet.
3. If an employee is off work due to an on-the-job injury, immediately notify the Risk Management Department.
For An Injury Not Requiring Medical Attention (Record Only)
1. Immediately contact the Risk Management Department and report the accident or injury.
2. Supervisor must complete three forms within 24 hours and send to the Risk Management Department: (1) The Employer's First Report of Injury or Illness (DWC-1), (2) The Accident Investigation/Claim Report, and (3) obtain the employee’s signature on The Authorization for Release of Information. Label the top of the DWC-1 as a "Record Only."
Summary
1. Immediately contact the Risk Management Department at 469-698-7031.
2. Fill out forms as soon as possible after the injury or incident.
3. Fill out formscompletely. This is required by law.
4. Immediately send completed forms to the Risk Management Department.
5. Give the injured employee a copy of the DWC-1.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Division of Workers’ Compensation’s rules state that an employee must tell their employer within 30 days of the date they were injured, or within 30 days of the date they first knew their illness might be work related. IF AN EMPLOYEE DOES NOT TELL THEIR EMPLOYER WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEY COULD LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.
Questions concerning on-the-job injury reporting shall be directed the Risk Management Department at 469-698-7030.
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