Part VII – Medical Consultation and Examination
A. Employees Who Work With Hazardous Substances
All employees who work with hazardous substances will have an opportunity to receive medical attention, including any follow-up visits that the examining physician determines to be necessary, under the following circumstances:
· Whenever an employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous substance or organism to which the employee may have been exposed in the laboratory, the employee will be provided an opportunity to receive an appropriate medical examination.
· Where exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL) for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements, medical surveillance will be established for the affected employee as prescribed by the particular standard.
· Whenever an event takes place in the work area such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure, the affected employee will be provided an opportunity for a medical consultation. Such consultation will be for the purpose of determining the need for a medical examination.
· Whenever an employee is physically hurt or injured on the job, the affected employee will be provided an opportunity for a medical consultation and/or examination. Physical injuries include but are not limited to cuts, burns, punctures and sprains.
Contact Environmental Health & Safety whenever the need for medical consultation or examination occurs, or when there is uncertainty as to whether any of the above criteria have been met.
B. Medical Examinations and Consultations
In the event of a life-threatening illness or injury, dial 9-911 and request an ambulance. Employees with urgent, but non-life-threatening, illnesses or injuries should go to the nearest medical clinic. Non-urgent and non-life-threatening illness or injuries will be taken care of atInnovis Health, 3000 32nd Ave SW, Fargo, ND. If off-hours medical attention is required, the employee should be taken to any emergency room. All medical examinations and consultations will be performed by or under the direct supervision of a licensed physician and will be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay and at a reasonable time and place.
C. Workers' Compensation Procedures and Forms
It is very important that even minor job-related injuries or illness are reported. These statistics help Environmental Health & Safety track trends that may indicate occupational hazards that need evaluation. To report an illness or injury, go to the Human Resources website under the subject heading Workers' Compensation located at http://www.mnstate.edu/humanres/policy/
As long as the illness or injury is not life threatening, the supervisor should follow these procedures:
1. Medical Attention:
All initial medical services must be obtained from Innovis, 3000 32nd Ave SW, Fargo, ND (701/364-8400). They have been designated as MSUM's provider for care of workers compensation injuries. Employee should mention they are MSUM staff and present the Comprehensive Managed Care card, if possible.
Innovis staff will complete a Report of Workability Form which releases the employee to work and lists any restrictions the University needs to be aware of. The employee needs to bring this to the worksite upon return to work. If there are restrictions, an assessment will be made to determine if appropriate work exists to accommodate those restrictions.
In the event an injury requires immediate attention, proceed to the emergency room or call an ambulance.
2. Provide employee with information and privacy statement prior to discussing the injury and ask him/her to read and sign it.
3. Supervisor's First Report of Injury:
This form MUST be completed by the supervisor as soon as possible after the incident/accident even if the employee does not see a doctor. If employee sees a physician later, let Human Resources know so that additional forms can be completed. Send the form, along with the privacy statement, to Ilene Trittin-Anderson in Human Resources as soon as possible. The University has seven calendar days in which to report injuries to the State, so time is of the essence.
4.Investigate:
Who, What, When, Where, How, Why. Are there any circumstances different from usual?
5. Follow-up:
Find out how the employee is doing after the accident.
6. Preventive Action Taken:
If there are specific engineering or training issues you'd like to see addressed, indicate as such on the Supervisor's First Report of Injury form. Human Resources will notify the Safety Officer of each injury and based upon a number of factors, he may investigate or offer training suggestions.
Notes:
Student workers are covered by Worker's Compensation. Report their injuries to the Human Resources Office as soon as possible. Treat their injury the same as any other employee.
Forward any invoices received to Human Resources.
D. Information Provided to Physician
The employee's supervisor or department will collect and transmit the following information to the examining physician:
· The identity of the hazardous substance(s) to which the employee may have been exposed;
· A description of the conditions under which the exposure occurred including quantitative exposure data, if available; and
· A description of the signs and symptoms of exposure that the employee is experiencing, if any.
The above information will be collected and submitted by the employee's supervisor or department to the Minnesota State University Moorhead Human Resource Office as well as to the examining physician.
E. Information Provided to Minnesota State University Moorhead
The examining physician will provide to the Minnesota State University Moorhead Human Resource Office a written report including the following:
· Any recommendation for further medical follow-up;
· The results of the medical examination and any associated tests;
· Any medical condition which may be revealed in the course of the examination which may place the employee at increased risk as a result of exposure to a hazardous chemical found in the workplace; and
· A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the consultation or medical examination and any medical condition that may require further examination or treatment. The Human Resources office will notify the employee's supervisor of the results of the medical consultation or examination.
The written opinion will not reveal specific findings of diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure.
F. Tort Claims/Incident Reports
Tort
Claims are filed by non-employees
(students, guests, vendors, etc.) who are injured or their property damaged
while on University's premises. All accidents and personal injuries that happen
on university property must be reported.
The Human
Resources office is responsible for processing tort claims. A copy of an incident
report, which must be completed by any and all witnesses, when an injury or
damage to property occurs is located at http://www.mnstate.edu/humanres/policy/files/ClaimReport.pdf After completion, the report must be timely
forwarded to the Human Resources Office.
It is the responsibility of
any state employee who witnesses such an incident to act in the following
manner:
1)
Report the incident immediately to Campus Security (2449) and Human Resources
Tort Claims Officer - Deb Lewis (2158).
2)
Get the name(s) and telephone number(s) of victims and witnesses, if possible.
3) Complete an Incident Report in a timely manner - Any information pertaining
to the incident should accompany the report when it is sent to Human Resources.
This might include notes about the weather, lighting conditions, physical
conditions of the site, or even a map, picture or drawing identifying exactly
where the incident occurred.
4) Make sure not to admit any liability --- do not give statements to anyone
other than the state's claim investigators or MSUM's representative. If the
individual requests payment for medical bills or damages, advise the individual
to report their claims to their own insurance and that they may file a claim
against the University/State by contacting Human Resources (Deb Lewis - 2158).
The claim will then be submitted to the Department of Administration, Risk
Management Division for review.
PLEASE NOTE: An employee shall not aid or assist any claimant in
prosecuting any claim against the University/State. Claimants should
determine and initiate their claims against the University/State without the
aid of any State employee, relying upon their own knowledge and records for the
propriety and substance thereof. However, employees contacted by claimants or
potential claimants may furnish to such person information as to his rights to
make a claim against the University/State and the procedures and forms for
presenting such a claim. Such information shall include, but not be limited to,
the name, address and telephone number of the claims officer. No other information should be provided.
These procedures apply to all incidents or accidents involving personal injury,
death or damage to private property which could result in a claim against the
State.