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| As of July 1, 2004, the following changes in Worker's Compensation will take effect: |
| 1. |
A staff member must report any work-related injury or illness as soon as possible but at least by end of the shift using the
Report of Work-Related Injury or Illness form. |
| 2. |
A supervisor must conduct an investigation to address any workplace safety issues and determine accurate account of what happened, where incident occurred, who saw the incident, etc as part of the manager/ supervisor section of the Report of Work-Related Injury or Illness form, which must be submitted with 24-hours of the incident. |
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The employing unit of a staff member who is injured on the job will be expected to return the individual to a suitable assignment following medical clearance. The employee's department remains responsible for 100 percent of the compensation for an employee who is released to return to work until the employee is placed in a suitable position or the end of one year whichever comes first. |
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Failure to abide by the policy provisions will jeopardize reimbursement from the workers' compensation pool. |
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Workers' Compensation Policy Revisions Announced
Duke's workers' compensation costs this year have soared by 60 percent from the previous year, an increase that has reduced money available for needed salary increases for staff. In order to substantially reduce claims expense and ensure better program performance, Duke is introducing revised workers' compensation policies and procedures beginning July 1, 2004.
Workers' Compensation is the program required by state law for employers to provide medical care and compensation to employees who are injured or contract occupational diseases in the course of employment with the University or Health System.
The number of workers' compensations claims at Duke is about the same as the average in the state, but Duke's increase in costs are largely caused by lengthy delays in filing claims and getting employees back to work once medically cleared.
As part of the changes, Duke is promoting a safety culture to help bring greater awareness about prevention of accidents and to ensure timely reporting of incidents that do occur.
"Our most common injuries are the result of such things as wet floors, icy conditions, and heavy lifting," said Mindy Kornberg, assistant vice president for Human Resources. "If we are all more aware of these circumstances, we can take action to prevent such accidents before they occur."
Kornberg emphasized that when workplace injuries or illnesses do occur, the most important priority is the health and safety of the employee. Then, she said, the supervisor needs to focus on the cause of the incident to address any workplace safety issues and determine an accurate account of what happened.
As part of the changes effective July 1, the employee is required to
report any injury or illness before the end
of his or her shift and the supervisor is required to complete a report
including the details of his or her investigation within 24 hours. "Reporting injuries and illnesses promptly is critical in addressing any workplace safety issues and ensuring proper care or rehabilitation to assist the employee's return to work," Kornberg said.
Once cleared to return to work, the employee's unit will be responsible for working with the employee to return him or her to work promptly. The employee's department remains responsible for one hundred percent of the compensation for an employee who is released to return to work until the employee is placed in a suitable position or the end of one year whichever comes first. If the employee is returned to work with restrictions that limit his or her ability to perform all functions of the position, the department will need to find a suitable position for the employee within employing unit.
"The revised policies reflect practices consistent with industry standards and will require collective support across the Duke community," wrote Tallman Trask, executive vice president for Duke University, and Bill Donelan, executive vice president of the Duke University Health System, in a memo announcing the changes. "It is essential that a safe and supportive work culture exist that enables needed staff to work productively and safely. The revised polices and procedures are intended to support needed accountabilities, safety procedures, and productive outcomes."
The Workers' Compensation department is conducting briefing sessions with managers across Duke to ensure understanding of the revised policies and procedures. For more information about the workers' compensation changes, talk with your manager, call Workers' Compensation at 684-6821.
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