7.3 On-Duty Illness or Injury

Centreville Police Department Title: On-Duty Illness or Injury Section: 7.3 Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 11.21.2016 Approved by: Charles M. Rhodes, Jr.

Chief of Police A. Purpose To provide guidance on documenting work-related injuries and illnesses and to describe administrative and accident leave.

B. Policy It is the policy of the CPD to properly document all work-related illnesses and injuries and to provide employees with the necessary leave to recover from such incidents.

C. Definitions

ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE:

• a form of leave with pay granted to officers who are temporarily disabled in the

performance of their law enforcement duties.

DISABILITY:

• a medical condition that requires an employee to be absent from work.

DISABLING PERSONAL INJURY:

• an injury which requires an employee to be absent from work.

INJURY:

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• any wound or damage to the body resulting from an event in the work environment.

MEDICAL TREATMENT:

• the management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder. Medical

treatment does not include visits to licensed health care professionals solely for observation or counseling, diagnostic procedures or first aid.

WORK-RELATED:

• event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting

condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness. Work-relatedness is presumed for injuries and illnesses resulting from events or exposures occurring in the work environment.

D. Procedures

1. Reporting Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

a. Employees incurring a work-related injury or illness will immediately notify a supervisor and complete an ‘Employee’s Report of Injury’ form.

b. If the employee is incapacitated and unable to immediately complete the ‘Employee’s Report of Injury’ form, the supervisor will complete the form on the employee’s behalf. The supervisor will have any witnesses complete an Accident Witness Statement.

c. The supervisor will immediately complete the ‘Supervisor Report of Injury’ form and together with all other documentation, forward to the Chief.

d. The supervisor will notify the Chief, who in turn will notify Town Human Resources Dept. before the end of the shift.

e. The original forms will be retained by the Chief and copies forwarded to the Town Human Resources Dept.

2. Workers’ Compensation Benefits

a. An employee who incurs an illness or injury during their employment, may be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits, including:

(1) payment of medical bills;

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(2) temporary benefits for time lost not recorded as administrative, accident or sick leave;

(3) permanent partial awards; and

(4) death benefits.

b. For additional information regarding Workers’ Compensation benefits, employees may contact the Town Human Resources Dept. Workers’ Compensation Coordinator.

3. Administrative Leave

a. Administrative Leave Policy

(1) Administrative leave is a benefit that may be granted to officers by the Chief in conjunction with

the Town Human Resources Dept.

(2) It is not the intent of this policy to grant administrative leave for on-duty injuries or illnesses that

may occur while an officer is performing administrative duties that may be performed in other types of employment, but rather to grant it in those cases where the employee is injured while performing duties unique to law enforcement.

(3) The Chief will ensure that administrative leave is requested appropriately for those officers who

are unable to do so on their own behalf.

(4) The Chief may require an employee on administrative leave to be examined periodically by a

physician selected by the Department Physician to determine the employee’s progress and the length of time necessary for the employee’s recovery.

(5) If a period of administrative leave extends into a second calendar year, unused annual leave in

excess of 400 hours will be forfeited.

(6) Administrative Leave is only granted when a determination has been made that the illness or

injury is or has been caused directly by the employee’s CPD employment. Until such time as that determination is made by the appropriate authority, the employee shall use his accrued leave.

4. Documentation

a. Any time an on-duty injury/illness occurs and the employee requires the use of sick/administrative leave because of the injury/illness, in addition to other required documentation, the employee and his physician shall complete and submit a ‘Medical Practitioner’s Certification Report – Employee’ to the Chief, who will submit copies to the Town Human Resources Dept.

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