General Information
Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage for on the job injuries or illnesses is purchased by Western Washington University from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (LNI).The Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) is responsible for administering the University’s industrial insurance benefits and programs in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), and University Policy.

Full benefit coverage is provided for all paid faculty, staff, and student employees who are injured or develop an industrially related illness while acting within the course and scope of their duties. Coverage begins automatically on the first day of employment. Each employee contributes a part of the medical aid portion of the coverage premium through payroll deduction.

Special Coverage Issues
Volunteers- Volunteers who are registered with Human Resources are provided partial LNI benefit coverage during the course of their work for the University. This coverage provides for medical treatment only and not for disability or other benefits. For additional information on volunteer status and required forms see the Volunteer Policies and Procedures section of the Human Resources website or call them at (360) 650-3774.

Travel in State- When required to travel away from the normal workplace on work-related business an employee is generally considered to be in the course of employment continuously for the duration of the trip. An exception would be a side trip for personal reasons.

Out of State or Country- LNI provides coverage for work-related injury or illness while traveling outside of Washington State. If you need treatment for such an injury or illness be sure to tell the emergency health care provider your concern is work related. Please note- This may be a difficult situation as providers in other states or countries may not recognize LNI coverage. You may be required to make personal payment up front and/or with personal health care insurance. LNI will not reimburse you for provider bills such as those for the emergency room, x-rays, or other medical care. They require that providers do so directly. LNI is able to reimburse for prescriptions purchased out-of-pocket. Be sure to save receipts.For the University policy on travel outside the United States click here. For additional information on health care coverage issues and travel please click here.

Bruce Boyer
Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager (360) 650-2947
bruce.boyer@wwu.edu

Gayle Shipley
EHS Director (360) 650-6512
gayle.shipley@wwu.edu

Environmental Health and Safety
General Information line (360) 650-3064
ehs@wwu.edu

Visitors and students not receiving a WWU paycheck for their activities who sustain injury or illness should contact-
Paul Mueller
Risk Management (360) 650-3065
paul.mueller@wwu.edu

While there are many ways the WWU Claims Manager can help following an on-the-job injury or illness our goal at EHS is to prevent these from happening. Achieving this goal not only avoids injury and illness but simply helps people feel better while working and at the end of the day.

EHS offers the University community a wide range of services and information to help prevent loss and injury. Please click on the following for additional information. Use your browsers back button or icon to return to this page.

Biological Safety

Chemical Safety

Construction Safety

Environmental Services

Ergonomics

Fire Safety

General Safety

Laboratory Safety

Risk Management

Communication of Safety Concerns- An important part of EHS efforts to prevent work-related injury and illness is our awareness of unsafe situations, near miss incidents, and minor injuries which don’t require workers’ compensation involvement. Your help is needed in this effort. Please be aware of the following.

Incident/Potential Hazard Report- Call us at (360) 650-3064 or complete the Incident/Potential Hazard form when you witness an unsafe incident or near miss, or when you notice a potentially hazardous situation related to your work. Send the completed form to EHS at MS 9070. This helps us address the concern before it can cause injury.

Accidental Injury/Occupational Illness Report- This is the University’s internal accident report. It is important to complete this report immediately after suffering a work-related injury or illness no matter how minor. Addressing the causes of minor injuries or illnesses helps EHS work to keep them from becoming more frequent or serious. Click on the WWU Accidental Injury/Occupational Illness Report for both printable format (pdf) and University web entry versions of this form.

EHS is always looking for ways to better serve the safety needs of the University. If you have safety concerns or would like to request additional information please contact us at (360) 650-3064 or at ehs@wwu.edu. Working together we can do a better job of protecting you and your coworkers.

First, we’re sorry you need this information. The following are the steps you need to take when you have a work-related injury or illness. For any questions on the following please contact the WWU Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager at (360) 650-2947.

1. Get treatment, whether on-the-job first aid or from a health care provider.
   
2. Report all work related injuries or illnesses immediately to your supervisor. Complete Step 6 even if no medical treatment is required.
   
3. Tell your health care provider your concern is work related if you seek medical treatment.
   
4. Complete the worker’s portion of the LNI Report of Industrial Injury or Occupational Disease at your provider’s office.
   
5. Bring any work restriction documents from your provider to your supervisor.
   
6. Complete the WWU Accidental Injury/Occupational Illness Report within 24 hours.
   
7. Contact your supervisor once a week if you are off work to update your status.
   
8. Discuss your leave options and time entry with your supervisor.
   
9. Give your supervisor additional documentation from your health care provider for any extension or change of work restrictions.
   
10. Work with the WWU Claims Manager to be sure you are getting necessary treatment.
    
11. Work with your supervisor, your provider, and the WWU Claims Manager to return to work as soon as possible.
    
12. Bring your supervisor a release from your provider when returning after a work related absence.
    
13. Get Well!

For additional information on the above steps as well as on Access to Claim File Information click here.

If one of your employees is injured on the job or develops an industrial illness your help is needed to ensure he or she receives prompt treatment and, if needed, timely processing of his or her LNI claim. Here are the basic steps you need to take.

1. Make sure your employee seeks treatment as needed, whether on-the-job first aid or from a medical provider.
   
2. Make sure your employees complete their section of the WWU Accidental Injury/Occupational Illness Report for all work-related injuries or illnesses within 24 hours.
   
3. Tell your employees to let the health care provider know their concern is work related if they seek medical treatment.
   
4. Send any work restriction documents from the employee’s provider to the WWU Claims Manager at MS 9070.
   
5. Complete the supervisor’s portion of the WWU Accidental Injury/Occupational Illness Report. Send the completed form to the WWU Claims Manager as soon as possible.
   
6. Contact employees who are off work once a week to check on their status.
   
7. Discuss leave options and time entry with employees who are off work.
   
8. Get additional provider documentation from the employee for any extension or change of work restrictions. Send a copy to the WWU Claims Manager.
   
9. Work with your employees and the WWU Claims Manager to return them to work as soon as possible.
   
10. Obtain the provider’s written medical release from your employee when he or she returns after a work related absence.

For additional information on the above steps click here.

EHS understands that having a group of well trained quality employees is essential both for accomplishing the University’s mission and for reaching the goals you set in each of your areas. The cost of workers’ compensation claims is not limited to the premium paid to LNI. Losing an employee, even temporarily, to injury or illness can severely impact your operations. Productivity and morale can be affected and the costs of finding and training a replacement can be a drain on your resources.

EHS has many tools to support you in efforts to keep your employees safe and healthy at work. Please review the Preventing Injury section of this page. For a quick list of what can be done both before and after a work-related injury or illness to limit the effects of claims please check out our Top Ten Ways to Limit Claim Costs.

Frontline supervisors are the University’s biggest asset in prevention of work related injury and illness. Their awareness of the information available in the above sections gives them the tools to protect their employees. If you manage supervisory personnel please encourage them to review this information.

EHS would like to work with you to determine which of our services best meet your needs. Please contact us at (360) 650-3064 or at ehs@wwu.edu. Together we can make this University a safer, healthier place to work.

Risk Management

Human Resources

Top Ten Ways to Limit Claim Costs

WWU Workers’ Compensation and Return to Work Policy

WWU Access to Workers’ Compensation Claim Information Policy

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries

Title 51 RCW

Title 296 WAC