What To Do If You Are Injured On The Job
If it is a Medical Emergency
If it is a Non-Emergency Situation During Work Hours
If it is a Non-Emergency Situation After Hours or on Weekends
Complete a claim Form
Your Benefits Under Workers' Compensation

What To Do If You Are Injured On The Job

Employees are our most valuable resource. SDSURF endeavors to provide a safe and healthy work environment and we encourage you to help us prevent work hazards and injuries to employees. When the unfortunate happens, our intention is to see that employees receive prompt, competent medical attention, and return to work as quickly as possible.

Prompt reporting of any work related injury or illness is important. Benefits cannot begin until the SDSURF is aware of the circumstances of the incident. Ensure your right to benefits by reporting every on the job injury, no matter how slight you may think it is. Even a cut finger can lead to a more serious condition if infection develops.

If it is a Medical Emergency

In emergency situations, seek medical treatment immediately at the nearest medical facility equipped to handle emergencies. This may include calling 911. A medical emergency is generally defined as a sudden and unforeseeable injury or illness of such a nature that failures to get immediate medical care could be life threatening or cause serious harm to bodily functions. Some examples include severe bleeding from any site, loss of consciousness, seizures, or severe or multiple injuries. The injury should be reported within 8 hours to SDSURF Risk Management at (619) 594-4076 or sdsurfriskmanagement@sdsu.edu.

If it is a Non-Emergency Situation During Work Hours

For non-emergency situations and before seeking medical treatment, call SDSURF Risk Management at (619) 594-4076 to report the injury within 24 hours. Be prepared to know when and where the injury occurred, what happened, and who witnessed the incident. If medical treatment is necessary, the SDSURF Risk Management will direct you to a medical facility that specializes in the treatment of industrial accidents and injuries. All medical bills and reports will be sent to SDSURF's workers' compensation carrier.

If it is a Non-Emergency Situation After Hours or on Weekends

If medical attention is required, the employee should seek medical treatment at any San Diego County Sharp Rees-Stealy or U.S. HealthWorks Medical Clinic. See Authorized Medical Provider Network. For out of the San Diego County area injuries, go to their website http://www.talispoint.com/travelers/ext/?lob=wc" to locate an authorized facility, or go to mywcinfo.com to obtain a clinic provider.

The employee needs to mention that the injury is work related and that SDSU Research Foundation's workers' compensation carrier is Travelers. The medical facility should send all medical bills and reports to Travelers. Report the injury to SDSURF Risk Management 619-594-4076 as soon as possible.

Complete A Claim Form

Once an injury or illness has been reported, SDSURF Risk Management will provide the employee with a simple claim form Workers' Compensation Claim Form (DWC 1). (PDF Format, 148KB)* The form is used to request workers' compensation benefits. Employees should fill out and sign the employee portion of the claim form. Employees should describe their injury completely and include every part of their body affected by the injury.

The supervisor will be sent an Accident / Incident Report (PDF Format, 144KB)* which should also be returned to Risk Management.

Return all completed claim forms by email:
SDSU Research Foundation Risk Management
sdsurfriskmanagement@sdsu.edu

Your Benefits Under Workers' Compensation

California workers' compensation law guarantees certain benefits to employees who are injured or become ill because of their job. This coverage is automatic and there is no qualifying period and no need to earn a certain amount in wages before you are covered. Protection begins when you first start on the job.

The benefits provided by workers' compensation coverage are for medical treatment, payment of lost wages and rehabilitation. Medical treatment, as necessary to treat a job-related injury or illness, is covered by our workers' compensation carrier. Medical bills authorized for payment are not subject to a deductible or an annual or lifetime dollar amount.

In addition, when you are temporarily disabled by a job injury or illness, you may be entitled to receive tax-free income until the treating physician determines that you are able to return to work. Time lost for medical and therapy appointments are not considered as temporary disability periods and should be recorded as sick time, if available. Payments for lost wages are two-thirds of your average weekly pay, up to a maximum set by state law. There is a three-day waiting period before benefit payments begin; however, the waiting period will be waived if you are hospitalized or unable to work for more than 14 days.

*Note: Documents in Portable Document format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 or higher to view. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader