STATEMENT OF POLICY

Highline Community College and the State of Washington are committed to the safety and well-being of their employees. The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) maintains industrial insurance through the Washington State Fund to protect both workers and employers from the financial impact of a work-related injury or occupational disease. It pays for an injured worker’s approved medical, hospital and related services that are essential to his/her treatment and recovery. An injured worker who is temporarily unable to work may also receive partial wage replacement payments.

DEFINITIONS:

Job-Related Injury: An injury that is sustained while you are on work time, doing College business. You do not have to be on College property to sustain a job-related injury.

Occupational Illness: An illness you develop as a result of your job.

STEPS TO TAKE IF YOUR ARE INJURED

1. File an Accident Report with the College: Visit the Campus Security office in building 6 to file an accident report. This is the formal report you make to Highline Community College as your employer. In cases of emergency, this can be done later, however it is a necessary step. Your claim can be denied if this step is not taken.
   
   
2. File an L&I claim, (obtainable from the treating physician): File your claim with L&I by completing a Washington State Fund Report of Industrial Injury or Occupational Disease. This form is provided by the physician who treats you. Be sure to advise your doctor that the injury or illness is work related. Usually a doctor will help you fill out the form when you are first seen for your workplace injury or condition. It is your responsibility to make sure it is filed.

After you complete the "worker section" and the doctor completes the "doctor section" of this form, the doctor will forward the applicable copy to Labor and Industries and to Highline. Be sure you receive your copy of this form.

PROCESSING YOUR CLAIM

L&I will receive your claim form and begin processing. Your claim will be assigned to a claims manager whose name and phone number will appear on each notice you receive from L&I. Your claim number originates from the report you completed at your doctor’s office and is present on each piece of correspondence you receive from L&I. If you should call your claims manager, be sure to have your claim number handy.

Benefits vary, depending on the injury. They can include paid health care, partial wage replacement (time loss) and other services to aid you in your recovery and return to work. Once a claim is accepted, the benefits and level of service you are entitled to are set by the state Legislature and administered by L&I.

Good communication between your doctor and your claims manager is essential to the smooth delivery of benefits. Your doctor must clearly explain the medical findings and restrictions that keep you from working. Your claims manager needs medical reports from your doctor with a current treatment plan.

If you are off work due to your injury, stay in regular contact with your supervisor. Let him/her know how you are doing and when you expect to return to work. If you are unable to do your job or portions of your job, discuss the possibility of other work you may be able to do during your recovery.

TIME LOSS AND SICK LEAVE BUYBACK

Highline employees who accrue leave must report this time by completing an Employee Absent Report. If you use sick leave for a work related injury or illness and receive a time loss payment for the same period, you must reimburse the College for the amount of the time loss payment. Simply turn over your L&I payment to HR. HR will then calculate and credit the appropriate number of hours to your sick leave balance.

You may choose to use vacation or personal holiday time in addition to L&I time loss payments.

For additional information visit the Labor and Industries website or download the Workers' Guide to Industrial Insurance Benefits.

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Department of Human Resources | Highline Community College
 2400 S. 240th Street | P.O. Box 98000, M.S. 99-200
 Des Moines, WA  98198-9800
 Phone:   (206) 878-3710, ext. 3812 | Jobline: (206) 870-3751
 Fax: (206) 870-3773 | TTY:  (206) 870-4853