What to report
All work-related injuries must be reported to the supervisor immediately.
The insurance carrier has the responsibility to investigate each claim
thoroughly and to determine within 21 days whether or not the claim is
legitimately compensable.
If the severity of the injury prevents the employee from reporting
immediately to the supervisor, a coworker or witness should contact the
supervisor for the injured party. The required forms and their deadlines are
discussed below. These must be submitted to the Office of Comprehensive Risk
Management as soon after the injury as possible. Failure to meet the NH State
Department of Labor (DOL) deadlines could result in fines up to $2,500 payable
by the injured employee's department.
What to file
There are three (3) required forms to be filed with Risk Management. They
are:
- Injury Questionnaire Form. This must be completed and received by Risk
Management within 24 hours after the injury in order for Risk
Management to meet the NH State DOL deadline. This form is to be faxed
(603) 646-9199 and then the original is to be sent to HB 6012.
- Notice of Accidental Injury or Occupational Disease, form 8aWCA. This must
be completed by the injured/ill employee, given to the supervisor and submitted
with the Injury Questionnaire form, if possible. If the employee is unable to
complete this form at the time of the injury, it should be submitted as soon as
the employee is in a position to do so. The original of this form must be sent
(HB 6012, or hand carried) to Risk Management.
- Supervisor's Accident Investigation/Loss Source Identification. This form
must be filled out by the injured employee's supervisor on duty at the time of
the accident and submitted to Risk Management within 24 hours. This is a
College-only document and is used to gain information to help minimize or
prevent future accidents.
Benefits
Disability payments start on the fourth day of disability, subject to a
three-day waiting period. The weekly compensation rate is based on 60% of the
employee's average weekly wage. The average weekly wage is determined using the
average of earnings for the 26 weeks prior to the injury. The waiting period is
waived if the disability continues for 14 days or longer or if an employee
returns to temporary alternative duty within five days.
The College provides temporary alternative or modified duty to injured
workers when available. This program provides meaningful work during the time
of healing and strengthening following a work-related illness or injury. If an
employee returns to work for less than a full shift, wages for hours worked are
paid by the department and workers' compensation replaces the regular hours not
worked at the pay replacement level of 60% as discussed above. Temporary
alternative duty ends when an injured worker is released to return to their
normal work status.
Medical bills related to the injury remain the responsibility of the
insurance carrier as long as treatment is reasonable, required due to the
injury, and is obtained within the provider network. If prescription drugs
are prescribed as part of the medical treatment, direct-pay arrangements are
available so the injured worker will not have out-of-pocket expenses for these
prescriptions.
For further information, please contact Risk Management at (603)
646-3839, Monday through Friday, 8-12 & 1-5. Summer hours may apply.
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