Employee / Occupational Safety
Workers Compensation
The purpose of the Workers' Compensation program is to coordinate and manage claims relating to work injuries sustained by University employees. University policy and procedures can also provide guidance, especially in areas, such as time, leave and payroll issues.
Workers Compensation: Procedures for Supervisors and Employees:
There are 5 basic actions that must be taken when an employee is injured:
- Employees must report an accident to their supervisor or their representative within 48 hours. All faculty, staff, and students who receive wages from UVa are covered. Step-by-step instructions can be found here.
- DO NOT go to your Primary Care Physician or your claim may be denied. Employees must select a physician from the UVa list of Panel Physicians for medical treatment.
- The supervisor must immediately contact Linda Coiner in the University Human Resources Department, at 924-8939 or email at lgc3u@virginia.edu. As of July 1, 2008, telephonic reporting will no longer be available by calling Managed Care Innovations. This step must be done to guarantee WC claim benefits; the physician DOES NOT file the Workers Comp claim.
- If the approved Panel Physician writes a prescription for the employee, the employee should take it to a participating First Script pharmacy.
- To expedite filling your prescription it is best to take a copy of the Workers Compensation First Script Pharmacy Card. First Script operates with the use of a generic pharmacy card, which your attending physician will give you if you receive a prescription.
After the Accident
Accident Investigation
All accidents resulting in injury, regardless of severity, should be investigated by the departmental Safety Manager and/or the supervisor of the injured employee to determine ways to improve safety and prevent similar accidents from occurring.
Restricted Duty? The employee must obtain a Return To Work Status Form from the workers' compensation panel physician and fax it to Linda Coiner at 434-924-4486 in order for any period of disability to be listed as Workers' Compensation leave. The University’s Return to Work Policy can be found here.
Employee’s Own Leave Time? If the employee is given a work excuse from his/her panel physician, the first 7 calendar days that the employee is excused from work must be covered by the employee’s own leave time. Workers Comp does not kick in until after the 7th calendar day.
Still Getting Bills? Call UVa Workers Compensation Coordinator, Linda Coiner at 434-924-8939.
Denied Claim? In case the injury is not approved as being work-related, the employee’s own medical insurance should cover the amount above the employee’s regular co-pay amount.
Appeals? Employees can seek further appeal to the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission if they believe the claim should be compensated as a work place accident.
Each state has its own laws concerning Workers Compensation. In Virginia, the laws are covered by the Code of Virginia Workers Compensation Act.
Types Of Injuries Included Under The Act
Employees are entitled to receive compensation for an "injury by accident" or an "occupational disease".
In order to be covered, an "accident" must:
- Occur at work or during a work-related function,
- Be caused by a specific work activity, and
- Happen suddenly at a specific time. (Injuries incurred gradually or from repetitive trauma are not covered, although certain diseases caused by repetitive trauma are covered.)
In order to be covered, a disease must:
- Be caused by the work.
- Not be a disease of the back, neck, or spinal column.
To see particulars about the Code of Virginia which covers the Act, see § 65.2-900, records and reports of accidents.
You can view the Code of Virginia Title 65.2 - WORKERS' COMPENSATION here.