Question: I want to be prepared in case someone gets hurt on the job. What do I need to do on the paperwork side of things right away?Answer: We're liking the Scout sensibility. Nice work. When a city employee is injured on the job, cities have certain reporting requirements under the Workers’ Compensation Act. Here are three important things to know so you can always be prepared:
What to report?
A city must report all injuries and illnesses that employees believe are work related. If an employee claims a work-related injury, the city should contact the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) as soon as possible so that it can conduct an investigation to determine whether the employee is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The LMCIT will also help the city comply with its reporting requirements to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry within the required deadlines.
When to report?
An employee is required to report an injury or illness to the city within 180 days of its occurrence. The city, in turn, must generally report work-related injuries or illnesses within ten days of learning of them. The city must report the death or any life-threatening injuries of an employee within 48 hours.
What reporting form is mandatory?
Cities must fill out a mandatory reporting form called the First Report of Injury (FROI). Directions for its completion are on its back, and the LMCIT is available to assist with any questions. The LMCIT recommends submitting the FROI on the same day the injury is reported if possible. The city is required to give the injured employee a copy of the FROI and the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation System Employee Information Sheet.
See LMCIT risk management memo Workers’ Compensation Claim Management for more information about the management of a workers’ compensation claim.
Written by Susan Naughton, research attorney with the League of Minnesota Cities. Contact: snaughto@lmc.org or (651) 281-1232.
This blog post conveys general information. It’s not legal advice. Please check with your city attorney before acting on this information.