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The State Accident Fund (SAF) provides Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage to the employees of the College of Charleston. When work-related accidents or injuries happen, employers are required by state law to make sure an injured employee is provided necessary protection and care. Under SC Workers’ Compensation law, an injured worker is entitled to reasonable medical care (at no cost to the employee) for the duration of his/her injury, until such time that “maximum medical improvement” (MMI) has been reached, as determined by the authorized treating physician. South Carolina law allows the employer/insurance carrier to designate a physician. The authorized treating physician for the College is Worksite Partners.

If you are injured on the job you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits. Benefits may include payment for medical treatment, temporary disability income, and compensation for permanent disability. Injured employees should immediately report any on-the-job injury to their supervisor and seek medical treatment as outlined in this policy. All injuries must be reported, regardless of their severity. If you have additional questions, contact Human Resources at 953-5512.

Who Is Covered?

In general, all employees of The College who are paid through the College payroll system are covered by Workers' Compensation. This includes all classified, unclassified, temporary, adjunct, and student employees. Any accidental injury or occupational disease sustained by employees in the course of performing their job duties may be covered.

Reporting Injuries
What do I do if I'm injured on the Job and How do I get Medical Treatment?

During Regular Business Hours
(8:30 am - 5:00 pm)

1. Notify your Supervisor that you have been injured. You must report all injuries (no matter how minor) right away. Failure to report an injury may deprive you of the right to compensation.

If you have a minor injury that does NOT require any medical care, after you have notified your supervisor, you should contact the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator, Andria Stevens (x3-5513) in Human Resources so that a First Report of Injury and Illness Form can be completed to document the injury. If she cannot be reached, call the main line to Human Resources (x3-5512) for another contact..

2. In emergency/life threatening situations, you should call Public Safety (x3-5611) and they will dispatch First Responders to provide emergency medical treatment. Public Safety will also call 911 to request an EMS unit.

3. In non-emergency/non-life threatening situations, you should go to or call Human Resources. Information concerning the injury will be recorded and you will then be sent to an off-campus medical facility.

Medical treatment will be authorized and the appropriate paperwork will be started to file the Workers’ Compensation claim while you receive medical treatment.

-OR-

a. The Workers' Compensation Coordinator will refer you to Doctor's Care, usually the James Island location at 743 Folly Rd. Doctor's Care is the designated treating physician for the College. If you are unable to drive or don't have transportation, arrangements will be made to transport you by cab in most non-emergency situations or in the event that Doctor's Care does not have a doctor on duty, you will be referred to the emergency room at Roper Hospital.

A Nurse Manager will be assigned to your claim by HealthWorks. This company works very closely with the State Accident Fund and the College Coordinator to assist in managing the claim and ensure that you receive appropriate medical care in an efficient manner. HealthWorks has a Nurse available 24 hours/day to answer any questions or address any concerns or complications that arise.

4. After you have received medical treatment, you should contact Andria Stevens, The College Coordinator in Human Resources by calling (953-5512). They will speak with you regarding your injury and complete a First Report of Injury or Illness to file with the State Accident Fund. An appointment will be scheduled for you to meet if necessary.

a. You will be asked detailed questions to determine how you were hurt and where you were when the injury occurred.

b. The Coordinator will continue to follow the injury until you have been released from medical care. All questions/bills regarding the injury/claim should be directed to her in Human Resources.

5. Once treatment has begun, you may not see a new doctor unless you are referred by the original treating doctor, or with the approval of the State Accident Fund. HealthWorks will assist with this approval process. You may be responsible for payment of medical services if approval is not obtained in advance.

Contact Human Resources at 953-5512 for further information if you have any questions regarding this procedure.

Reporting Injuries
What do I do if I'm injured on the Job and How do I get Medical Treatment?

After Regular Business Hours
(5:00 pm - 8:30 am)

1. Notify your Supervisor that you have been injured. You must report all injuries (no matter how minor) right away. Failure to report an injury may deprive you of the right to compensation.

2. In emergency/life threatening situations, you should call Public Safety (x5611) and they will dispatch First Responders to provide emergency medical treatment. Public Safety will also call 911 to request an EMS unit. You will be transported by EMS to the Roper Emergency Room for medical treatment.

3. In non-emergency/non-life threatening situations, you should notify Public Safety that you have been injured. If the injury requires medical care at that time, arrangements will be made for Public Safety to transport you to the Roper Emergency Room in most situations. Public Safety will report the injury to HealthWorks. Injuries that do NOT require medical care do NOT need to be reported to HealthWorks by Public Safety.

If you require medical care, a Nurse Manager will be assigned to your claim by HealthWorks. HealthWorks works very closely with the State Accident Fund and the College to assist in managing the claim and ensure that you receive appropriate medical care in an efficient manner. HealthWorks has a Nurse available 24 hours/day to answer any questions or address any concerns or complications that arise.

4. In the event that you DO NOT need medical care, the injury should still be reported to Public Safety so that a record is made of the injury. You will also need to contact the Andria Stevens (953-5512) during regular business hours to report the injury. She will complete a First Report of Injury and Illness Form to document the injury.

5. Public Safety will file an incident report and forward a copy to the Coordinator in Human Resources to notify the Coordinator that an employee was injured after regular business hours. The appropriate paperwork will be started to file the Workers’ Compensation claim.

6. During regular business hours (8:30am-5:00pm) the following day, you should contact the WCC in Human Resources, by calling (953-5512). The WCC will speak with you regarding your injury and complete a First Report of Injury or Illness Form to file with the State Accident Fund. An appointment will be scheduled for you to meet with the WCC if necessary.

a. You will be asked detailed questions to determine how you were hurt and where you were when the injury occurred.

b. The Coordinator will continue to follow the injury until you have been released from medical care. All questions/bills regarding the injury/claim should be directed to the Coordinator in Human Resources.

7. Once treatment has begun, you may not see a new doctor unless you are referred by the original treating doctor, or with the approval of the State Accident Fund. HealthWorks will assist with this approval process. You may be responsible for payment of medical services if approval is not obtained in advance.

Contact the Human Resources Department at 953-5512 for further information if you have any questions regarding this procedure.

How is Worker's Compensation Paid?
TYPES OF COMPENSATION

Before benefits can be received, the State Accident Fund must determine that an injury is job related and accept liability. There are four types of compensation that may be applicable after the Accident Fund accepts liability:

1) LOST WAGES

While recovering from your injury, you are entitled to weekly compensation at the rate of 66 2/3 % of your average weekly wage, but not more than the average weekly wage in South Carolina for the preceding fiscal year. How long payments continue depends on the injury and how long you are unable to work as a result of it. If you have a second job with another employer, you must submit that salary information to the WCC so that income can be included in the calculations. Workers’ Compensation benefits are not subject to state or federal taxes.

Payment is based on a seven day work week, regardless of the number of days a week you work. This means your daily payment is one-seventh of your weekly payment.

There is a waiting period before benefits can be paid. The waiting period is the first seven calendar days after the accident. You do not receive compensation for these seven days if you are disabled for 14 days or less. If you are disabled for more than 14 calendar days, you will receive compensation beginning with the first day missed.

You are required by law to make a written choice using the Benefits Election Form to designate whether you wish to use your leave time (sick and annual leave) or receive Workers' Compensation for time lost from work due to a work related injury. Once you elect to use leave or Workers' Compensation and begin receiving payment, you cannot change your decision.

The Coordinator will meet with you to thoroughly explain the Benefits Election Form and to make sure you fully understand your options under this requirement before you make a decision.

2. APPROVED MEDICAL EXPENSES

Approved medical expenses are covered at 100 percent. This includes hospital and doctors' charges, medicines, therapy, prosthetic devices, and travel expenses for obtaining medical attention more than five miles from home. Medical bills should be forwarded to the WCC in Human Resources who will forward them to the State Accident Fund for payment.

3. PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT OR DISFIGUREMENT

After you have healed as much as possible from your injury, your doctor will estimate whether you have any permanent impairment or disfigurement. If you have a permanent impairment, you may be entitled to additional compensation. Different amounts of compensation are due for the loss of, or loss of use of various parts of the body.

4. DEATH BENEFITS

If you should die due to a work related injury, your family may be entitled to Workers' Compensation benefits.

Working with Light or Restricted Duties

If the doctor says you may return to work, but only with light or restricted duties, your department will determine whether suitable light duty is available. If you refuse to accept suitable light duty, you may be placed on unauthorized leave without pay, and may forfeit your right to Workers' Compensation benefits. If light duty is unavailable, you will be required to remain off the job until your doctor releases you for full duty.

Informal Conferences and Hearings

An informal conference or hearing may be scheduled before the S.C. Workers' Compensation Commission to settle disputed issues and determine what compensation is due an injured employee. An informal conference is an opportunity for you and representatives from the College and the State Accident Fund to meet informally with a Workers' Compensation Commissioner or claims mediator to discuss settlement of your claim. If a settlement cannot be reached at the informal conference, a hearing will be scheduled.

A hearing is a formal proceeding before a commissioner or a panel of commissioners, during which you and other appropriate witnesses will testify under oath about your claim. The commissioners' ruling determines whether you are due compensation, and how much compensation you are due. You or your representative may request a hearing. Forms to request a hearing are available from the S.C. Workers' Compensation Commission, P.O. Box 102100, Columbia, S.C. 29211-2100. Telephone: 1-800-521-6576. Fax: 803-731-1428.

Legal Assistance

You may request a hearing without being represented by an attorney. However, under South Carolina law, you do have the right to hire an attorney at your own expense.