Workers' Compensation & On-the-Job Injuries

What To Do When An On-The-Job Injury Occurs:

• EMERGENCIES - Call 911

• NON-EMERGENCY, URGENT CARE & MINOR INJURIES

  • Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m., and on Friday: 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m.-- Call University Health Services at ext. 5671 or ext. 5672
    
    
  • Monday-Friday and weekends: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 a.m. -- Go to the Emergency Room at DePaul Hospital

  * If the injured employee works at an off-campus site, just have him/her go to the Emergency Room of the nearest hospital.
  
  

                                      
  Always complete a Report of Injury form and send or fax it to Human Resources.   Be sure to notify HR at ext. 5639 within 24 hours of ANY injury occurrence.
                                      
                                      

UM WORKERS' COMPENSATION POLICY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
ON-THE-JOB INJURIES SUPERVISOR’S CHECKLIST

UM WORKERS' COMPENSATION POLICY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Who is covered under Workers' Compensation?
All full-time and part-time employees, including students while in employment status and recognized volunteers are covered under workers' compensation.

What is covered?

• Medical Expenses & Compensation
  Provides for the payment of medical expenses and compensation to any covered individual, who is either injured in a work-related incident or incurs an occupational disease.
  
  
• Death Benefits
  Provides for death benefits, should the injury or disease result in death.

What determines if, how much, and how long medical expenses and compensation are payable?
Compensibility, as well as the amount and duration of any payments, is prescribed by state statute rather than by University policy.

When do Workers' Compensation benefits begin?
A waiting period of three (3) regular days is prescribed by law.  Employees who miss three (3) days of work or less may use sick time to avoid loss of pay.  Workers' Comp pay benefits begin on the fourth missed work day.  If the employee must miss more than two (2) weeks of work, Workers' Comp pay benefits become retroactive to Day 1.

Who pays Workers' Compensation benefits?
Workers' Comp costs come directly from University funds that are dedicated to employee costs.  Any dollar spent on Workers' Comp claims is a dollar that the University cannot then direct toward other benefits or salaries, so it is in everyone’s best interests to help minimize these costs.       

ON-THE-JOB INJURIES SUPERVISOR’S CHECKLIST

• Assess the situation.  If it is a life threatening injury, immediately call 911.  If it is a non-emergency or a minor injury, take the appropriate action according to the chart above.
• Take care of the injured employee.  Make sure that he or she is safe, comfortable, and being treated properly by the appropriate caregivers.
• Identify witnesses.  Remember that facts and information tend to blur with time.
• Contact Human Resources.  Joann Westbrook (ext. 5639) is the campus contact for any employee injuries and must be contacted within 24 hours of the injury.
• Complete the required paperwork.  A Report of Injury Form must be completed and sent to HR.  The form can be faxed to 516-6463.
• Correction of unsafe behavior and procedures are primarily the responsibility of the supervisor.  However, it may be necessary to get help outside the department .  For assistance, contact campus Police at 516-5155, Environmental Health & Safety at 516-6363 or Facilities Management at 516-6311.
• Keep in touch.  Encourage the employee to keep in touch with UHS and/or Human Resources.  Let them know that if they have any recurring problems, they should feel free to contact us.