safety discussion topics what is workers’ compensation? where do the funds come from?

UC Davis Safety ServicesMonthly Safety Spotlight

November 2010: Workers’ Compensation: Working for You

• Safety Discussion Topics• What is Workers’ Compensation?• Where do the Funds Come From?• The Importance of Prevention• You’ve Been Injured! What Happens Next?• What are “Disability Payments?” (Temporary Disability)• What are “Disability Payments?” (Permanent Disability)• Workers’ Compensation Responsibilities• Know Your Resources

Think Safe. Act Safe. Be Safe.

Monthly Safety Spotlight, November 2010

Workers’ Compensation

• A program established in 1913 through the California Workers’ Compensation Law

• Required by California law and UC policy

• A program that covers all UC Davis employees and volunteers

• No-fault insurance completely paid for by the employerNote: UC Davis is self-insured

• Designed to provide prompt benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their jobs

• A program that:

• Pays for medical costs for on-the-job illness or injury

• Helps replace lost wages when an employee is disabled because of a work-related injury by paying for temporarily lost wages and any permanent disability



• UC Davis is self-insured for Workers’ Compensation

• Costs of injuries are paid from a defined assessment of payroll

• The assessment rates are based on the injury history at UC Davis

• These funds are then accrued and claims are paid from a central trust fund

Think Safe

Act Safe

Be Safe




• The fewer work-related injuries we have, the less departments are assessed funds to pay for injuries

• If injuries are declining through proactive prevention strategies, funds are rebated back to UC Davis for other uses

Decrease in Workers’ Compensation claims in your department

Increase in funding accrued to your department’s budget

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• Get care for and report every injury, no matter how slight.

• Get first aid care in the department for a minor injury, or go to Occupational Health, Sutter Davis Emergency Room (after or before normal work hours or weekends), or call 9-1-1 if it is a major injury.

• Contact (or have someone else contact) your supervisor immediately.

• Contact (or have someone else contact) the Workers’ Comp office immediately.

• Workers’ Compensation staff will assist you:

• You will receive a Claim Form (DWC1) with instructions to complete the form and return it to Workers’ Comp within one working day.

• For detailed information, contact the Workers’ Comp office at 530-757-3266.




• Temporary Disability Payments

• Employees are paid Temporary Disability (TD) payments for lost wages only if disabled > 3 days (First 3 days are not paid unless disabled >14 days)

• Temporary Disability (TD) wages are two-thirds of your existing wages up to a maximum of $986.69 per week.

• TD payments stop when your doctor says you can return to full time work, or your condition has become Permanent and Stationary (your medical recovery has reached maximum foreseeable improvement)

• TD payments stop after 104 payable weeks within two years from the date of the first TD payment or after 240 payable weeks within five years from the date of injury for specific long-term conditions

• The difference between the TD payment and your normal wages can be supplemented by using your sick leave and/or vacation to bring you up to 100% salary

• When sick leave and/or vacation are exhausted you can receive 80% of your gross salary for up to 26 weeks.

• This payment is based on the difference between the TD payments and 80 percent of the employee's basic salary (plus applicable shift differentials)




Permanent Disability (PD) Payments: If the injury results in a permanent reduction of the employee’s ability to compete in the open labor market, the employee may be given a permanent disability rating and paid a specific amount of money as compensation.

Injuries can occur in all campus work environments. Learn about and follow all of your departmental safety procedures, including correct ergonomics, safe tool and ladder use, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), etc. Practice common-sense personal risk management to stay safe and avoid injury or illness.




• MANAGERS and SUPERVISORS

• Understand all Workers’ Compensation processes, requirements and timelines

• Post Workers’ Compensation information for all employees to read

• Provide Injury reporting information as part of new employee training

• Make accommodations for employees with short- and long-term disabilities who return to the department for alternative work assignments

• EMPLOYEES and VOLUNTEERS

• Read and understand the specific Workers’ Compensation processes and requirements for your department or unit

• Report any work-related injury or illness promptly

• Complete Workers’ Compensation forms and return them promptly to ensure you will receive proper benefits

• Contact the Workers’ Compensation office if there is anything you don’t understand




• Visit the UC Davis Workers’ Compensation website

• Go to safetyservices.ucdavis.edu and click on the Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation link. From there you can navigate to:

• Reporting injuries or illnesses: (SafetyNet #121)

• Reporting injuries to Workers’ Compensation

• UC Davis Workers’ Compensation Policy and Procedure

• Workers’ Compensation regulations

• Additional resources for employees and supervisors

• Contacts for Workers’ Compensation related questions

• Valerie Jensen: [email protected], 530-757-3264

• Kim Sieg: [email protected], 530-757-3266

• Department FAX # 530-757-7779

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

safety discussion topics what is workers’ compensation? where do the funds come from?

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