Safety and Health Plan 2001 Pg. 5

Workers Compensation benefits are available to any employee who suffers an accidental injury or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of his employment, according to the provisions of the North Carolina Workers Compensation Act. All University employees are eligible for workers compensation benefits.

Medical Benefits

The full cost of medical treatment is covered by workers compensation if the injury/illness is compensable under the Workers Compensation Act.

Medical Treatment

The supervisor is responsible for assisting an injured or ill employee to determine the necessary level of treatment. If first aid is not immediately available or deemed adequate, the supervisor shall escort the employee to a University-approved treatment facility. Employees are not to be sent unescorted to seek medical attention. Crown Health Medical Arts Center, Frye Regional Medical Center, and Carolina Orthopedic Specialists are the main University referral points for on-the-job injury treatment. The Director of Safety and Security or the Risk/Benefits Coordinator, to whom the incident shall be reported, shall assist the supervisor and injured employee in determining which facility to go to, and shall approve workers compensation benefits. If the employee is dissatisfied with the medical treatment provided by the University he may request treatment by a physician of his choice. This request for change must be approved by the University and by the North Carolina Industrial Commission prior to implementing the change.

Workers Compensation Benefits

Employees who suffer lost work time due to compensable injury or illness are eligible to receive workers compensation weekly benefits equivalent to two-thirds of their weekly wage, with a maximum to the average in North Carolina. The maximum compensation rate is adjusted periodically.

Waiting Period

Workers compensation weekly benefits are not payable for a seven-day waiting period following an accident unless the total lost work time exceeds 21 calendar days. During the seven-day wiring period, the employee may elect to use earned sick leave, and when it is exhausted, earned vacation leave. Employees are credited with work on the day of the injury. Employees are expected to return to work unless the treating physician indicates that the employee must go home for the day. A written statement shall be provided by the treating physician if the employee cannot return to work. Employees injured on the job in a compensable accident who have returned to work but continue to require medical or therapy visits to reach maximum medical improvement, shall be considered to be at work during times required for medical and therapy treatment.

Employee Responsibility

Each employee must give notice of an accident to his supervisor as soon as possible. In the event of occupational disease, the time frame for notice begins when the employee is first informed by a medical authority.

Supervisor Responsibility

The supervisor must record all accidents that result in lost work time or medical treatment beyond first aid in accordance with the North Carolina industrial Commission Form 19. This may be most easily accomplished by giving a full verbal report to the Risk/Benefits Coordinator. Copies of the Form 19 are available from both the Safety and Security and the benefits offices.

Continuation of Benefits

While on workers compensation leave, an employee is eligible for continuation of the following benefits:

Performance increase (upon reinstatement an employee’s salary will be computed based on the last salary, plus any increase that would have been given had the employee been at work.
Hospitalization and life insurance (while on workers compensation leave, an employee remains actively covered under the University insurance programs, provided that the employee was a participant in such program at the time of injury or illness, and that he continues to pay any applicable portion of premiums.

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