Workers' Compensation and Job Accident and Injury Policy

Purpose

The College is committed to complying with workers’ compensation laws and providing workers’ compensation benefits to employees injured in the course and scope of their employment with the College. This policy provides College employees with information regarding workers’ compensation insurance in the event of a work related injury or occupational illness. Compliance with this policy is essential to ensure timely reporting, treatment, and investigation of work-related injuries and occupational illnesses necessary to provide prompt and efficient medical care and workers’ compensation benefits.

Scope

This policy applies to College employees.

Policy

Employee Responsibilities for Reporting Occupational Accidents, Diseases & Injuries

All accidents and/or injuries, including those that do not require medical treatment or care, must be reported immediately to the employee’s supervisor and to the Human Resources Department. The employee’s supervisor is then required to complete a “First Report of Injury” that includes the details of the report of the accident and/or injury. This report must then be provided to the Human Resources Department within 24 hours of the initial report to the supervisor. The Human Resources Department will prepare and process the information as required by the workers’ compensation laws within that state. Timely reporting is critical, because claims may be denied if accidents and/or injuries are not timely reported.

Medical Treatment

Under the Missouri workers’ compensation law, the employer has a right to designate the doctor, hospital or medical care facility to provide treatment to the employee.  The College’s workers’ compensation insurance may only pay for treatment at authorized facilities.

If an employee elects to have an unauthorized physician provide treatment, payments may be the employee’s responsibility and any time taken off work for treatment at non-College designated providers may be considered sick leave or leave. 

Returning to Work

Employees returning to work full-time following an absence due to work related accident and/or injury or disease will be provided unpaid time-off for therapy or medical treatment. The time away from work can be made up within the same workweek or charged to sick leave.

Drug and Alcohol Test for Work-related Accidents 

The College reserves the right to require a drug and/or alcohol test when work-related accidents occur. Employees may be required to provide body substance samples (such as urine and/or blood) to comply with standards and guidelines set forth by the workers’ compensation insurer. If it is determined that the employee was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time a work-related injury occurred and if the cause of the accident was directly related to the use of drugs and/or alcohol, the employee will not be eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits.

If it is determined that the employee was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time a work-related injury occurred, even if the cause of the accident was not directly related to the use of drugs and/or alcohol, the employee will be assessed a reduction in workers' compensation benefits as per RSMo 287.120.

General Provisions

An employee must report all work-related injuries or illnesses to his/her supervisor immediately.

An employee with a compensable work injury must follow any and all instructions of the authorized treating physician. This compliance includes prescription use, therapy, following activity restriction and returning for follow-up visits. Compliance with medical instructions is mandatory for job tasks and off the job.

An employee who fails to return to work after receiving a release from his/her authorized treating physician will be considered absent without authorization. The College considers three days of unauthorized absence to be a voluntary resignation.

Compliance with these policies and procedures is a condition of employment at the College. Failure to comply may result in College discipline up to and including discharge.

Under Missouri law, an employee who submits a fraudulent workers' compensation claim and/or misrepresents facts can be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and may be subject to substantial criminal fines, as well as College discipline, up to and including discharge.

Questions 

All questions related to workers’ compensation at the College should be directed to the College’s Human Resources Department.

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