Worker's Compensation for On-the-Job Injuries or Illnesses/Risk Management
WORKER'S COMPENSATION FOR ON-THE-JOB INJURIES
The University covers its employees with Worker's Compensation Insurance as a protection for injuries or illness compensable under the Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Act.
REPORTING THE ACCIDENT:
Items to be remembered when an employee is injured:
An accident report should be filed each time anyone is hurt, regardless of how minor the injury may seem. An electronic version of the "Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Disease" form must be completed.
An accident or injury should be reported whether the employee is full-time, part-time, casual or a student employee.
It is the employee's obligation to report work-related injuries to their supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for the immediate completion of the Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Disease form.
A link to the "Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Disease" form, along with other valuable workers' compensation information, is available through the University's Workers' Compensation website at http://www.ohr.psu.edu/workerscomp/
University Park Supervisors--follow the procedure below:
After submission of the electronic report of injury, you will be prompted to provide the injured employee with three documents (below) to complete the reporting process. Links to these forms will be provided.
Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Disease
Current copy of the Panel Provider list
Workers' Compensation Employee Notification
The "Workers Compensation Employee Notification" is still required in paper form. The employee must read and sign the Notification form. Please print the employee's name and date of injury below your signature and mail the original to OHR-Workers' Compensation, Rider Building, Box 9.
Supervisors of County Based Employees--Follow the procedure below:
After submission of the electronic report of injury, you will be prompted to provide the injured employee with three documents (below) to complete the reporting process; however, only one document is required.
Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Disease--required
Current copy of the Panel Provider List*
Workers Compensation Employee Notification*
The "Panel Provider List" and the "Workers' Compensation Employee Notification" are NOT required for those based away from University Park. Providing the employee with a copy of the Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Disease will complete the reporting process for county employees.
TREATMENT:
At University Park, an injured employee must treat with a worker's compensation panel provider (physician list available at http://www.ohr.psu.edu/WorkersComp/MedTreatment.cfm for the first 90 days in order for medical payment consideration under the Workers' Compensation Insurance plan. If the employee is faced with an immediate medical emergency, they may secure initial treatment from a hospital, physician or other health care provider of their choice. They must then seek subsequent treatment from a panel physician for at least 90 days from the date of their first treatment.
NOTE: The Centre Area Transit Authority's (CATA) "P" route provides transportation between campus and the Centre Medical Services Building. The schedules can be viewed at http://www.catabus.com/.
College of Agricultural Sciences' employees based away from University Park may seek treatment from a physician or other health care provider of their choice.
Reference:
Worker's Compensation Home Page
Safety Policy SY04 -- EMPLOYEE ACCIDENTS - REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION
Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Disease
Human Resources Policy HR34 -- Employment Conditions for Staff Employees
ABSENCE FOR ON-THE-JOB INJURY OR ILLNESS
If an employee is absent from work as a result of an injury or illness compensable under the Worker's Compensation Act, Occupational Disease Act, or similar legislation, the following conditions apply:
Absence during the first seven (7) calendar days
If the employee is absent during the first seven (7) calendar days following the date of injury, full salary shall be paid and the employee shall be charged one-third (1/3) of a day of sick leave for each work day of absence, or if sick leave balance is exhausted, the employee, at the option of the employee, may use vacation at the rate of one-third (1/3) of a day for each day of absence. If an employee who has charged sick leave or vacation in order to receive salary during this seven (7) day period subsequently received a Worker's Compensation insurance check for that period, the employee shall endorse that check and return it to the University. The charge to sick leave accumulation, or vacation accumulation if appropriate, shall then be adjusted and prorated to the difference between the employee's gross salary and the amount of the check, but not to exceed one-third (1/3) day for each day of absence.
Absence for eight (8) or more calendar days
If the employee is absent for eight (8) or more calendar days following the date of injury, the employee shall have the option to continue to receive full salary and be charged one-third (1/3) of a day of accumulated sick leave, or accumulated vacation if sick leave is expended, or to be placed on leave of absence without pay. Any compensation checks the employee may receive while receiving full salary shall be endorsed and returned to the University. The charge to sick leave accumulation, or vacation accumulation if appropriate, shall then be adjusted and prorated to the difference between the employee's gross salary and the amount of the check, but not to exceed one-third (1/3) day for each day of absence.
If the employee requests leave of absence, such leave shall commence the eighth (8th) calendar day of absence and may extend up to a maximum of twenty-four (24) months. The employee shall retain any Worker's Compensation insurance checks received for the period of the leave of absence without pay. If the amount received from Worker's Compensation is less than the employee's normal rate of pay, the employee may elect to charge sick leave accumulation in the appropriate amount, or in the absence of sick leave accumulation the employee may charge vacation accumulation in the appropriate amount, in order to make up the difference in pay during the twenty-four (24) months of leave.
Insurances during leave of absence without pay
The employee's monthly contribution for group life insurance, health care insurance, and voluntary accidental death and dismemberment insurance (if enrolled) shall be paid by the University, if the employee is on leave of absence without pay (maximum of 24 months) following an on-the-job injury, provided the employee continues to receive Worker's Compensation insurance payments.