Workers' Compensation and On-the-Job Injury

Employees must notify their immediate supervisor or other appropriate supervisory personnel of their injuries as soon as possible. If the injury is not reported to OU within 30 days, the claims administrator will assume it is not work related and the claim will be denied.

A work-related injury or illness that can be compensated by Workers' Compensation occurs directly during the course and scope of employment.

Compensable injuries do not include injuries due to horseplay/assault (except for innocent victims); strain, degeneration, damage/harm or disease/condition resulting from aging, arthritis or degenerative processes; or any pre-existing condition.

Form Deadlines

These forms must be completed the day of the injury or the next workday when there is ANY on-the-job injury or illness, even if medical care appears to be unnecessary. These forms must be submitted to HR within 48 hours of the incident. Fines can be assessed to the department for delays in submitting forms.  

Forms

1. Supervisors must complete the Initial Acknowledgement of Treatment form and employees must take it with them when they seek treatment.
2. Employees must complete the Employee's Report of Injury. Submit it to supervisor or department. 
3. Supervisors must complete the Supervisor's Report of Employee's Injury. Submit it to the department.

Submit Forms To

The department should send all forms and work status reports to ouworkerscomp@ou.edu.

Returning to work after recovering from an on-the-job injury or illness is allowed only after the department receives a Work Status Report written by the doctor authorized to provide treatment for the injury. 

If the treating physician determines the employee is unable to work or any restricted duty cannot be accommodated by the employee's department, the employee will be determined to be "temporarily totally disabled" (TTD). HR will work with Payroll to compute the employee's earned paid time off (PTO) in conjunction with temporary total disability (TTD). TTD begins after the employee has been off work for three (3) calendar days. TTD is 70% of the employee's average weekly wage; the employee can use up to 30% of PTO. If the employee chooses not to use their 30% of PTO, they must submit their request in writing to ouworkerscomp@ou.edu. 

An employee's earned PTO is used for any time away from work for doctor's appointments, physical therapy, etc. The employee will need to schedule appointments around their work responsibilities. We encourage the employee to schedule these appointments on the way to work, on their lunch break, or on their way home so the employee's work area is not disrupted and the employee will not have to use as much PTO.