RISD strives to provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment. In the event of a serious injury or medical emergency on campus, employees should call the Public Safety Department’s emergency line (401 454-6666) or emergency 9-1-1. RISD’s Public Safety Officers are equipped to render emergency first aid and will arrange transportation to an appropriate medical facility. Emergency telephones are located throughout the campus. Public Safety is in direct contact with the Providence Police and Fire Department for emergency situations.
In accordance with State law, RISD carries Workers’ Compensation Insurance for each individual on RISD’s payroll. Any injury, however slight, incurred by an employee while on the job must be reported immediately to the employee’s supervisor and the Human Resources office in order to ensure applicable insurance coverage under the law. See below for specific details on how to report an injury in the workplace.
Time lost at work due to a work-related injury is not charged to sick leave and should be reported for the first three (3) days on the employee’s time record as “workers’ compensation.” For lost time injuries exceeding three (3) work days, compensation payments are made directly to the employee by the insurance company. An employee with an absence of more than six (6) months due to injury on the job may be eligible for long-term disability insurance benefits if the employee has enrolled in this coverage.
During authorized Workers’ Compensation leave:
1. Vacation and sick time continues to accrue.
2. RISD-provided insurance benefits are maintained by RISD. The employee continues to be responsible for payment of his/her portion of the premium.
Safety in the Workplace: Accident and Reporting Procedures
Those employees injured on the job will receive assessment and appropriate treatment to ensure recovery and a prompt return to work. These goals will be accomplished by:
- Affirmative efforts by managers and supervisors to prevent employee injuries.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment of work-related illnesses and injuries.
- Timely submission and analysis of the Rhode Island First Report of Injury and the required Public Safety incident reports.
- Workers’ Compensation benefits, provided in accordance with Rhode Island Law.
All injuries, no matter how minor, must be reported to the employee’s supervisor. A First Report of Injury Form will be completed by the employee’s supervisor and submitted to Human Resources. The supervisor and/or department manager are responsible for ensuring that the Rhode Island First Report of Injury Form in addition to any required Public Safety report has been filed and for notifying Human Resources of how many days, if any, the employee has been away from work as a result of the incident/injury, and when the employee returns to work.
Every reasonable effort should be made to return the employee to work as soon as possible. If a physician recommends a return to light duty, the Every reasonable effort should be made to return the employee to work as soon as possible. If a physician recommends a return to light duty, the supervisor is encouraged to make such a position available, taking into consideration the duration of the light duty request and the department needs. Supervisors are encouraged to consult with Human Resources.
A Public Safety officer may respond to an injured employee and assess if medical transport is necessary. Employees may elect to receive treatment from the physician of their choice, depending on the nature of injury, diagnosis, or referral. Public Safety will file an incident report form. This incident report does not satisfy the State of Rhode Island requirement for reporting (please see Responsibilities and Actions of Supervisor and/or Department Manager).
Responsibilities and Actions of Employee
- Employee reports incident to immediate supervisor and/or department manager.
- If an off-site examination is desired by the employee or required by the nature of the incident, the employee should report to the nearest treatment facility. If the employee is unable to drive, transportation will be provided by RISD or Providence Rescue. Note: Physical examinations are required when injuries involve musculoskeletal symptoms or require medical treatment, or when the employee’s job duties must be altered or restricted as a result of the injury.
Responsibilities and Actions of Supervisor and/or Department Manager
- The supervisor/manager notifies Public Safety to assess the injured employee and to determine if medical transportation is necessary. Note: If the employee has suffered a serious injury, they should be taken directly to the nearest emergency health care facility. All paperwork can be completed afterwards.
- The supervisor completes the First Report of Injury form, and sends it to Human Resources as soon as possible. Please note, if the employee receives off-site treatment or is out of work due to the incident/injury, the Supervisor/Manager must fax the First Report of Injury Form to Human Resources (454-6565) and EHS (277-4973) within 24 hours of the incident.
Responsibilities and Actions of Human Resources
- Human Resources reviews the reports for completeness, ascertaining whether further information is required. If all requested information is not provided, Human Resources will contact the employee and/or department manager.
- If the injury/incident results in time away from work or medical treatment, the claim will be reported to the workers’ compensation carrier. A claim representative from the carrier will contact the employee and/or the employee’s supervisor and provide a claim number
- Human Resources will maintain a log of all incidents/injuries that occur each year for reporting purposes as required by OSHA.
Responsibilities and Actions of Environmental Health and Safety
- The Office of Environmental Health and Safety investigates work-related illnesses/injuries by collecting information about incidents, interviewing witnesses, and recommending actions to prevent recurrence.