How Workers' Compensation Affects You

The Employee

Think of it as on-the-job insurance. Workers’ Compensation provides medical benefits and possible wage replacement to an injured worker.

As an injured worker, you are responsible for the following things:

Seek medical treatment if needed. You will need to inform the medical provider that your injury/illness is work related and complete the Labor and Industries Report of Accident Form.
All work-related injuries or occupational illnesses must be reported immediately to your supervisor for recording purposes, whether or not medical attention is needed or if a worker compensation claim is filed.
The employee will assist the supervisor in completing the Online Incident Report as soon as possible following an accident/illness.
Employees must provide a note from the physician to his/her Supervisor or HRS specifying the return to work status and restrictions, if any.
Employees are expected to fully participate and cooperate in the process of identifying and/or developing appropriate return to work options that are considered to be medically suitable by the employee’s attending doctor.
Read each notice from Labor and Industries carefully. If there is any statement in the Notice which you believe is incorrect, it is your responsibility to write an appeal letter to Labor and Industries to ask fro a correction. Keep a copy of every letter you send and Notice you receive.
Notify HRS immediately if you miss more than 3 days due to your injury/illness.

The Supervisor or Department

When an employee in your department is injured on the job, you are responsible for the following things:

Make sure the injured employee is provided first aid and/or seeks medical treatment if needed. Remind the employee to notify the medical provider that the visit is work related.

Find out what happened. You are our first line of defense, whether it is to find unsafe working conditions or practices, or fraud. It is important to us that you investigate incidents thoroughly. Take statements from the injured worker and any witness to find out how the accident occurred. Follow up to make sure the unsafe conditions are corrected to prevent future occurrences. If an injury seems questionable, call our office at (509) 335-1760 for further instructions.

Make sure that the proper forms reach our office timely. The Online Incident Report must be completed and submitted to our office within 24 hours of the incident. The Supervisor’s Accident Investigation Report may also need to be completed. See How to File a Claim for details.
Supervisors will work collaboratively with the employee and HRS to identify and coordinate the details of the employee’s return to work on a modified or transitional basis based on the treating physician’s approval. This must continue until such time that the employee is medically able to return to their job of injury and restored to regular duty as it was prior to the injury.
Supervisors will participate actively with Environmental Health and Safety in the accident investigation process for any incidents involving their direct reports.
Supervisors must report near misses, incidents not resulting in injury, and incidents resulting in injury/illness whether or not a worker compensation claim filed, by completing the required WSU incident report.

Supervisors are strongly encouraged to stay in contact with your employee and show concern. When at all possible, include the employee in any return to work efforts. Ultimately they are the ones that know their job the best. By allowing them to think of modifications, they may have good ideas, and gain a sense of control over their consequences. Studies have shown that when the employer remains in contact with their injured worker who is off work, the return to work process is easier and more effective. The worker knows that they are valued, and that their employer and co-workers are looking forward to having them back to work. WSU wants to develop and nurture these cooperative and positive working relationships.

Human Resource Services, PO Box 641014Pullman WA 99164-1014, 509-335-4521, Contact Us