Workers' Compensation Training
How to Schedule Training
To request Workers’ Compensation training, please email your contact information to bieowcp@bia.gov
Employees: What to do if injured at work?
If you are injured at work, you may be entitled to injury compensation benefits provided under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Federal employees have certain rights and responsibilities in filing for these benefits:
Report the Injury
- Immediately notify your supervisor.
- Complete an incident report in the Safety Management Information System (SMIS).
Seek Medical Treatment
- Get medical care as soon as possible if needed.
- For traumatic injuries, request Form CA-16, (Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment) from your supervisor or the Workers’ Compensation Specialist. Issued no more than one week after the occurrence of the claimed injury.
Choice of Physician
- You have the right to select a qualified physician of your choice, provided they are enrolled by OWCP.
File the Claim
- Initiate Forms electronically through The Employees’ Compensation Operations & Management Portal (ECOMP).
- Form CA-1: For injuries from a specific event or series of events during one workday or shift. Must be filed within 30 days for Continuation of Pay (COP) eligibility.
- Form CA-2: For conditions caused by prolonged exposure over more than one day.
Provide Additional Information
- You may need to submit supporting documentation. While your supervisor can assist, you are responsible for obtaining all required information.
Stay Informed and Return to Work
- Keep your supervisor updated on your medical status.
- Return to work when cleared by your physician. Light-duty assignments may be available—inform your doctor about this option.
Filing Systems
On October 1, 2019, The Department of the Interior transitioned from using the DOI Safety Management Information System (SMIS) to using the Department of Labor (DOL)’s ECOMP system to file Workers’ Compensation Claims. Although injured employees will continue to initiate all safety-related events, through SMIS.
Workers’ Compensation Claims: File through ECOMP: http://www.ecomp.dol.gov/
Incident Reports: File through SMIS: Must be connected to Globalprotect VPN.
Supervisors’ Responsibilities
When an employee is injured at work, supervisors have certain responsibilities to ensure the employee receives the necessary care and can file a claim properly.
Immediate Actions
- Advise the employee of the right to their initial choice of physician.
- Inform the employee of their right to file a claim via ECOMP. If incapacitated, contact the Workers’ Compensation Specialist.
- For traumatic injuries, issue Form CA-16 within four hours of injury (only one per injury). complete and sign the first page. Ensure only current forms are issued to the employee and provide copy to the Workers' Compensation Specialist or upload into ECOMP case file.
- Form CA-16 cannot be issued for past care unless within 48 hours after verbal authorization to the hospital for emergency care.
Claim Submission
- Complete supervisor review of Form CA-1 or CA-2 in ECOMP promptly, even if you doubt the claim’s validity. Contact the Workers’ Compensation Specialist for more information.
- Preventing an employee from filing is illegal and may result in fines or imprisonment under federal law.
Continuation of Pay (COP)
- Inform employees they may receive COP for up to 45 calendar days after a traumatic injury if the claim is filed within 30 days. Absences must be supported by medical documentation.
Light Duty and Communication
- Offer light-duty work if employee is released to work with work restrictions that prevent them from working their current/normal work duties (Modified/light capacity). Keeping employees engaged aids recovery and reduces costs.
- If the employee cannot return to work, maintain regular contact.
- For absences beyond COP, advise employees of their options to use either personal leave or file Form CA-7/CA-7a to claim compensation from OWCP while in a Leave Without Pay status.
| Form | Purpose | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| CA-1 | Traumatic injury claim | 30 days from the date of injury for Continuation of Pay (COP); 3 years from the date of injury |
| CA-2 | Occupational disease claim | 3 years from becoming aware or reasonably aware of the possible relationship between medical conditions and employment or date of last exposure |
Resources
- What a Federal Employee Should Do When Injured at Work (Publication CA-10)
- U.S. Department of the Interior: Workers’ Compensation Program
- Basic Information on New Claims
- Information for Injured Workers and their Representatives
- Medical Bill Processing Portal – Find a Provider
- BIE Employee Checklist (2.61 MB)
- BIE Supervisor Checklist (225.4 KB)
- DOL/OWCP Frequently Asked Questions
BIE’s OWCP Liaison Contact Information
Patricia Patch - Human Resource Specialist (OWCP), Program Manager
Phone: (785)789-8599
Email: patricia.patch@bie.edu
