Office of Risk Management

GUIDELINES & POLICIES RELATED TO WORKERS COMPENSATION

SUBJECT:	INJURIES/ILLNESSES ON-THE-JOB: All on-the-job injuries/illnesses must be reported
SOURCE:	Vice President for Administration
DATE ISSUED:	August 1, 1992
RATIONALE:	To assure that injuries/illnesses that should be covered by workers compensation are pormptly reported as required by state law.
POLICY:	*ALL ON-THE-JOB INJURIES/ILLNESSES MUST BE REPORTED*	Employees must report on-the-job injuries/illnesses to their supervisor immediately. Failure to report the injury/illness the same day of occurrence may result in denial of the claim by Risk Management. The supervisor must report the injury on the Occupational Injury/Illness Report form and forward to Risk Management within 24 hours regardless whether professional medical attention or lost time is indicated. The University has the choice of the attending physician for treatment of on-the-job injuries/illnesses.
	*Employees at the Bloomington campus*	~~Employees are required to go to the Health Center, 600 N Jordan, for treatment of their on-the-job injuries.~~ Effective 12:01 am Jan 1 2003: On-the-job injuries and illnesses will now be treated at BHCOH/Promptcare located on East 3^rd Street. Go to http://www.indiana.edu/~riskmgmt/ for further details on the new procedure and additional forms. If BHCOH is closed or in emergency situations, the employee should go to the Bloomington Hospital Emergency Room. If there are questions, contact the Office of Risk Management.
DEFINITIONS:
PROCEDURE REFERENCE:	Specific procedures to be followed are included in a document called "Procedures for Workers Compensation Claims".
CROSS REFERENCE:
RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION:	Office of Risk Management

Procedures for Workers Compensation Claims

Employees should contact the Human Resources Department on their campus, Risk Management (Lynn Sinn, 855-9758) and also the Risk Officer-Biosafety on the Bloomington (855-9333, Norma Hollingsworth) campus regarding the procedure to follow if the accident involves exposure to human tissue, blood, or fluid.

If on the Bloomington campus, the employee is required to take (in person) one copy of the Occupational Injury-Illness form to BHCOH/Promptcare within 24 hours of exposure. Also, a copy of the form is to be sent to the Risk Officer-Biosafety, Bryan Hall 110. If a sample of the source of contamination can be obtained, take the sample with you to BHCOH for testing.

ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS

Full-time appointed staff may receive supplemental benefits (in addition in those provided by State Law) when an injury or occupational disease is incurred while performing their duties. Supplemental benefits are as follows:

For the first seven calendar days of disability, the employee will receive salary at the regular pay rate. Absence during this time is not charged to previously earned benefits and is coded "INJ" on the payroll voucher. Department heads may require a physician's statement before approving payment for absences during this period of time. All campuses must report all lost time to the Office of Risk Management, 855-4847.

If eligibility requirements are met, Worker’s Compensation begins on the eighth day of disability to pay a portion of the employee’s salary. The exact portion paid by Worker’s Compensation is determined by state legislation and changes from time to time. Questions concerning the amount of payment and claims procedures should be addressed to the Office of Risk Management.

The employee may choose to receive a portion of their regular salary as paid by Worker’s Compensation, or they may choose to receive their full salary through the use of earned benefits along with Worker’s Compensation. Up to a maximum of four hours per day may be charged to accrued benefits such as vacation, income protection, bonus hours, holidays, and compensatory time, in order to receive full pay. Charges to vacation earnings do not count against the allowable vacation time which can be used in any calendar year.

As long as the employee is using paid-time-off benefit earnings in conjunction with Worker’s Compensation pay, the employee will continue to accrue earnings for the time covered by Worker’s Compensation and the time covered by the employee’s paid-time-off benefits.

When all benefit accruals have been used, or if the employee chooses not to use them, the employee can continue for 29 calendar days receiving only the payment from Worker’s Compensation. The employee will be recorded as absent without pay and without benefit accrual. Starting with the 30^th calendar day, unless the employee has returned to work, the employee will be placed on a Leave of Absence while still receiving Worker’s Compensation benefits.

If the employee is given work restrictions by the attending physician, and the University can provide work for the employee within the restrictions: the employee is not entitled to receive temporary total disability benefits.

The University will pay the cost of replacing or repairing eyeglasses or contact lenses damaged as a result of an on-the-job injury or accident. If replacement is required, eyeglasses or lenses of an equivalent cost will be provided. At IU-Bloomington, safety glasses provided by the University shall be replaced through the University Optometry Clinic. Each department is responsible for any cost incurred under this provision as eyeglasses and contact lenses are not covered by Indiana’s Worker’s Compensation Law. Contact Risk Management for more details on this policy and any changes which may occur.

If the attending physician in an on-the-job injury case recommends chiropractic services, the University will pay for the recommended services. There are specific circumstances in which this policy applies and the employee must contact Risk Management for the guidelines prior to seeking chiropractic care.