October 1, 2005 To establish a uniform procedure for processing Workers' Compensation claims for injured APD employees.

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Atlanta Police Department

Policy Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Operating

Procedure

 

Effective Date

July 5, 2010

 

APD.SOP.2150

Injury on Duty

Applicable To:  All employees

Approval Authority:  Interim Chief George N. Turner

Signature:  Signed by GNT

Date Signed:  6/30/10

 

 

1.          PURPOSE  PAGEREF _Toc267656649 \h 1

2.          POLICY   PAGEREF _Toc267656650 \h 1

3.          RESPONSIBILITIES  PAGEREF _Toc267656651 \h 1

4.          ACTION  PAGEREF _Toc267656652 \h 1

4.2           Supervisors Duties  PAGEREF _Toc267656653 \h 2

 

4.3           Disability Leave  PAGEREF _Toc267656654 \h 2

5.          DEFINITIONS  PAGEREF _Toc267656655 \h 3

6.          CANCELLATIONS  PAGEREF _Toc267656656 \h 4

7.          REFERENCES  PAGEREF _Toc267656657 \h 4

 

 

 

1.               PURPOSE

 

To establish a uniform procedure for processing Workers' Compensation claims for injured APD employees.

 

2.               POLICY

 

The Department will seek immediate and appropriate medical treatment for injured employees.  The Department will comply with City Code 114-424 "Disability Leave", in order to preserve employees Workers' Compensation Benefits.

 

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

 

3.1              All bureau, division, section and unit commanders will ensure that employees and supervisors comply with the procedure.

 

3.2              All employees will notify their supervisor immediately when injured in the line of duty.

 

3.3              All supervisors will ensure that injured employees get immediate medical care, complete the appropriate paperwork and notify the Personnel Services Unit within 24 hours of the injury.

 

3.4              The Personnel Services Unit will notify the Workers' Compensation Division within 48 hours of the injury and manage the process for the Department.

 

4.               ACTION

 

4.1              An employee injured in the line of duty will:

 

4.1.1           Immediately notify their immediate supervisor.  Sworn employees injured in the line of duty in an off-duty capacity for which they have a valid, approved work permit must notify the on-duty supervisor in the zone where the injury occurred.

 

4.1.2           Receive immediate and necessary treatment at a City authorized medical treatment facility and have the physician sign the Workers' Compensation Treatment Authorization form (Form 6-A-52), indicating dates of disability, (if any) and the anticipated date of return to work.  In the event of life threatening injury, the employee may receive treatment at the nearest medical facility.  Once the emergency is under control, the employee must then obtain treatment from one of the authorized medical facilities or physicians.  Treatment received at a medical facility or by a physician not authorized under the City's Workers' Compensation plan is subject to loss and/or denial of benefits.  The expense then becomes the responsibility of the employee.

 

4.1.3           Immediately report the injury on an incident report giving detailed circumstances of the injury.

 

4.1.4           Submit all the original forms to the immediate supervisor.

 

4.2              Supervisors Duties

 

4.2.1           Supervisors who become aware of an employee's injury on duty will (within 24 hours of the injury):

 

1.    Complete a Workers' Compensation Treatment Authorization form (Form 6-A-52). If the employee is present, the employee will take the Form with them to the treatment facility.  If the employee is not present, the supervisor is responsible for arranging for the Form to be completed by the attending physician.  For additional treatment of the same injury, the supervisor must complete a Workers' Compensation Treatment Authorization form (Form 6A-52) for each subsequent visit.

 

2.    Complete an Employer's First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease form (Form WC-1). For treatment of recurrence of the same injury, the supervisor must complete an Employer’s Supplemental Report of Injury form (Form 29-S-24).

 

3.    Complete the Supervisor's Checklist for Injured Employees form (Form APD 718) verifying that all required documents have been completed.

 

4.    If necessary, complete a Supervisor's Accident Investigation Summary form (Form APD 705).

 

5.    Immediately send a copy of the complete injury packet, via facsimile, to the Workers' Compensation Office and submit all of the original forms along with a copy of the facsimile confirmation, through the chain of command of the injured employee up to the division commander, and to the Personnel Services Unit representative, and maintain photocopies in the employee's unit medical file.

 

4.3              Disability Leave

 

4.3.1           In accordance with City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances, Section 114-424 (e) "Disability Leave" states "a sworn officer of the department of police shall be deemed to be injured in the line of duty upon the occurrence of any of the following:” 

 

1.    The officer sustains an injury while on duty performing such officer’s normal functions.

 

2.    The officer sustains an injury while in the course of employment with another employer, within the boundaries of the city, pursuant to a valid permit approved by the Department, and while taking appropriate and necessary action for the protection of the public.

 

3.    The officer sustains an injury while off duty, performing a duty that is authorized by the rules and regulations of the Department and which is appropriate and necessary for the protection of the public.

 

4.4              All supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the "panel of Authorized Physicians and Medical Facilities" and the "Bill of Rights for the Injured Worker" are posted in a conspicuous place or places in and about the place of business in accordance with the State of Georgia Workers' Compensation Laws publication and distributed by the City of Atlanta, Workers' Compensation Office.

 

4.5              All supervisors are responsible for ensuring that employees absent from work due to injury on duty are marked accordingly on the time-book.  The first three working days an employee is absent due to injury on duty will be charged against an employee's sick/annual leave.  If an employee is disabled for more than 21 consecutive workdays following an injury, the leave charged against sick/annual leave will be reinstated and that time will be reflected as "I/O", as well as any days of absence from the fourth through 27th workday of disability.

 

4.6              The division commander will submit all of the original forms to the Personnel Services Unit within 24 hours of the injury.

 

4.7              The Personnel Services Unit will review all of the forms for completeness and compliance and forward the original forms to the Workers' Compensation Unit within 48 hours of the injury.  The Personnel Services Unit will maintain a photocopy of the injury packet in the employee's medical file.

 

4.8              The Workers' Compensation Treatment Authorization form (Form 6-A-52), the Employer's First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease form (Form WC-1), the Supervisor's Checklist for Injured Employees form (Form APD 718), and the Employer’s Supplemental Report of Injury form (Form 29-S-24) will be maintained on the Department’s Horizon network and the Personnel Services Unit will ensure that the Forms are updated and accessible to all applicable Department employees.

 

5.               DEFINITIONS

 

5.1              Authorized medical care facilities: Medical care facilities or physicians as authorized under the City’s Workers’ Compensation plan and identified on the "panel of Authorized Physicians and Medical Facilities" Georgia Workers’ Compensation “OFFICIAL NOTICE” WC-P1.

 

5.2              Injured Off status - allows an employee to recuperate from an injury received in the line of duty without reporting to work and without expending sick leave, while continuing to receive pay and other benefits.  The employee is marked "I/O" on the attendance sheet and time book.

 

5.3              Injury - physical damage or harm caused by exposure to abnormal conditions, infection, inherent weakness or environmental stress that impairs normal functioning, arising out of and in the course of a particular occupation or employment.

 

5.4              Recurring Injury - an injury in the line of duty from which the employee has been released by the physician to return to work, but after returning to work, the employee experiences a medical condition caused by the original injury that requires additional medical treatment.

 

 

6.               CANCELLATIONS

 

                  APD.SOP.2150, “Injury on Duty,” issued October 1, 2005

 

7.               REFERENCES

 

                  City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances, Section 114-424, "Disability Leave"

 

                  City of Atlanta, Workers' Compensation Reference Manual, Department of Finance, Bureau of Accounting & Budget Administration

 

                  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies 5th Edition Standards

                  11.4.2, 22.2.2