Workers' Compensation
Reporting Injuries
Procedure During Business Hours • Procedure After Business Hours
General Information
What is Workers' Compensation? • Who is Coverred? • How is it Paid? • Working with Light/Restricted Duties • Informal Conferences/Hearings • Legal Assistance
Injured Worker Procedure
During Normal Business Hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- If an emergency, call the Office of Public Safety at 843.953.5609. Notify the injured worker's supervisor. Report the injury to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 843.953.6802 or 843.514.1850.
- If urgent care is needed, contact the Office of Public Safety at 843.953.5609 and then contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 843.953.6802 or 843.514.1850. If the injured worker needs transportation to Concentra, 4115 Dorchester Road, Suite 100, Charleston, SC (843.554.6737), the injured worker's department should arrange for a vehicle to transport the injured worker. If a vehicle is not available, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety will arrange transportation.
- If not an emergency and the injured worker does not need urgent care, the injured worker should report to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
After Normal Business Hours (Monday-Friday, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and weekends, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
- If an emergency, call the Office of Public Safety at 843.953.5609. Notify the injured worker's supervisor. Report the injury to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety the next business day at 843.953.6802 or 843.514.1850.
- If urgent care is needed, contact the Office of Public Safety at 843.953.5609. If the injured worker needs transportation to Concentra, 7519 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC (843.735.5020). The injured worker's department should arrange for a vehicle to transport the injured worker. If a vehicle is not available, call Charleston Green Taxi* at 843.819.0846 and tell them we have an account with the State Accident Fund.
After Normal Business Hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. and weekends, after 6:00 p.m.)
- If an emergency, call the Office of Public Safety at 843.953.5609. Notify the injured worker's supervisor. Report the injury on the next business day to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 843.953.6802 or 843.514.1850.
- If urgent care is needed, contact the Office of Public Safety at 843.953.5609 and then go to Roper Emergency Room. The injured worker's department should arrange for transportation of the injured worker to the medical facility. If transportation is needed, call Charleston Green Taxi* at 843.819.0846 and tell them we have an account with the State Accident Fund.
- If not an emergency and urgent care is not needed, the injured worker should determine if they can wait until the next business day before receiving medical treatment. If not, follow step 2. If so, the injured worker should report to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety the next business day.
*If Charleston Green Taxi is not available, call Yellow Cab at 843.577.6565 and tell them we have an account with the State Accident Fund. Both cab companies should have the employee sign a receipt for the service and give the injured worker a copy.
What is Workers' Compensation?
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 Doctors Care.
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 the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 843.953.6802 or 843.514.1850.
General Information
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.
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 percent 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), receive Workers' Compensation benefits, or use your leave time in conjunction with Workers' Compensation benefits to compensate 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.