Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Injury Policy

• This policy provides a standardized method for reporting and documenting work-related injuries to employees.
• The policy outlines the process for employees returning to work after a work-related injury.
• The policy applies to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel and reservists performing official duties but not to cadets.
• The Wellness Coordinator, along with the PPM Committee and the Fire Rescue Administrator, is responsible for future updates to this PPM.
• The authorities include the Fire Rescue Administrator, F.A.C. 69A-62.032(11) (a), and CW-P-021, as amended.
• Attachments include: Employee Injury/Illness/Exposure Report, Injury Tracking Number, Risk Management Report Guide, Return to work Checklist
• Employees are expected to: Perform work-related tasks safely and efficiently; Attend work only when their medical condition allows safe job performance.
• PPM Number: FR-H-302
• Issue Date: October 21, 2015
• Effective Date: October 30, 2018

General Procedure

• Supervisors are accountable for their employee's safe working performance and environment.
• Supervisors must accurately document employee's ability to safely perform work-related tasks on the Employee Performance Review (FR-A-104 Attachment A).
• All supervisors must immediately report and document work-related injuries.
• Failure to comply with reporting and documentation may adversely affect benefits.
• Employees must immediately report all work-related injuries, no matter how minor, to their immediate supervisor.
• Supervisors must document all facts related to work-related injuries on the Employee Injury/Illness Report (FR-H-302 Attachment A).
• The Employee Injury/Illness Report (FR-H-302 Attachment A) can be filled out on a station computer and printed for distribution.
• Employees reporting to the OHC after a work-related injury must bring a copy of the completed Employee Injury/Illness Report (FR-H-302 Attachment A) to the OHC.
• Supervisors must obtain an Injury Tracking Number (FR-H-302 Attachment B) request located on the Fire Rescue Intranet (SharePoint).
• Employees requiring further treatment or evaluation at an ER or OHC after being released from duty by an ER Physician or OHC nurse/doctor will be coded as W/C in the payroll by the Battalion Chief.
• If leave meets CBA criteria for sick leave use (Article 45-Wellness, Section D. Approved Sick Leave Use), the employee will be coded as sick.
• Payroll confirms OHC workers' compensation approval with the Wellness Coordinator, adjusting leave types if incorrect.

Injuries to Employees

• If a Fire Rescue employee is injured at an emergency incident: The supervisor completes the Firefighter Casualty page in the FDM report.
• If an injury involves PPE: The Battalion Chief secures the PPE, coordinates inspection with Training and Safety to determine product failure.
• If an injury involves PPE: A written report must be completed by the Battalion Chief indicating the circumstances behind the injury. The report must include: the call type, The task being performed, the location and the severity of the injury, whether all appropriate PPE was worn, and possible causation factors
• For minor injuries with no treatment required: The supervisor completes the Employee Injury/Illness Report (FR-H-302 Attachment A) and forwards it to the Battalion Chief/Supervisor.
• The Battalion Chief/Supervisor reviews the injury report for accuracy, signs it, submit the form to the District Chief/Division Head
• The District Chief/Division Head reviews the injury report for accuracy, signs it, and forwards the form to the Division Chief of Training and Safety via scanned copy an email.
• If an employee recognizes a work-related injury after leaving work: They must report to any Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The on-duty supervisor completes the Employee Injury/Illness Report (FR-H-302 Attachment A). The employee must also notify their Battalion Chief. The date of injury and report submission must be accurately documented.
• If Fire Rescue employees sustain an injury needing further but not serious treatment: The employee reports to the OHC for evaluation. The employee, supervisor, and Battalion Chief/Supervisor must complete all forms.
• Injured employees needing further treatment when the OHC is closed can go to the nearest hospital or wait for the OHC to open.
• For serious injuries: The employee may go or be taken to the appropriate hospital.
• The supervisor must contact the Battalion Chief/Supervisor about the injury and the hospital the employee goes to. The Battalion Chief/Supervisor then notifies the Fire Operations Officer, who then notifies the appropriate District Chief, Deputy Chief, Wellness Coordinator, and Risk Management.
• If an employee requires hospital transport: the Battalion Chief ensures paperwork is complete, investigates the incident, and submits a written narrative detailing all facts.
• The OHC must be notified of the injury and the employee should report to the OHC ASAP (within 48 hours if possible).
• If hospitalization is necessary for more than 24 hours, is a Line of Duty Death ,or a serious injury is related to equipment failure: The Firefighter Safety and Health Section of the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training requires notification.
• If the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training requires notification, it must be made within 4 hours at (352) 427-4401. The Fire Operations Officer, with authorization from the Deputy Chief, makes the notification.

Follow Up Care and Treatment

• The OHC may direct employees with work-related injuries to seek further care. It is the employee's responsibility to keep doctor appointments.
• Employees visiting a doctor or medical institution for a work-related injury must report to the OHC afterwards (excluding physical therapy visits).
• Employees unable to work due to a work-related injury must be cleared by the OHC before traveling away from the area.

Workers' Compensation

• The OHC provides employees with authorization and explanation of medical benefits as per Florida Workers' Compensation Law.
• Unauthorized treatment will not be paid.
• Payments are administered payments through Risk Management, compensation is allowed for mileage.
• Employees must document mileage reimbursement.
• The OHC determines if an injury is work-related and eligible for Workers' Compensation.
• An injury occurring at work does guarantee coverage, treatment, referrals and must be authorized by the OHC.
• Employees with a pre-existing work-related injury that reoccurs off duty, and because of this injury feel they are unable to report to work for their scheduled shift can either notify OHC/Batallion Chief that they are unable to work, or can report to work on shift but must receive documentation from OHC that they are unable to work.

Injury Tracking

• The Training and Safety Division enters injury tracking information into a database for tracking. Analysis will be on a quarterly basis and sent to the Wellness Coordinator.
• The Wellness Coordinator and Training and Safety Division may use the Employee Injury/Illness Report (FR-H-302 Attachment A) to plan injury prevention strategies.

Clearance To Return To Work

• Employees must receive a OK to return to work from the OHC after: a work-related injury resulting in time off, inpatient surgery or hospitalization requiring a doctor's release.
• Employees must notify their Supervisor or Batallion Chief that they have been cleared to return to work.
• Clearance must be obtained from the OHC prior to the employee's next shift.
• If clearance cannot be obtained by the employee, The Battalion Chief/Supervisor may allow the employee to return to work if the employee is no longer ill or contagious and without limitations, but must still receive clearance from the OHC before their NEXT work day.
• The OHC will fax over clearance information the Wellness coordinator who will then forward the clearance to District and Battalion Chiefs with a fax.
• Employees returning to full duty from an injury/illness or leave greater than 6 months, they must complete a medical examination + a fitness assessment.
• Employees may be held up to two weeks, or longer in order to ensure that they complete training/assessments.