Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) ensures the University of North Carolina – Asheville is informed about employee near-misses, first-aids, injuries, and illnesses for the purposes of incident prevention, reporting, and investigation and to establish a mechanism for compliance with the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for work-related injuries and illnesses.
Safe work practices are part of an employee’s duties in performing their daily tasks. Reporting unsafe conditions and at-risk behaviors is key to prevention. A proactive response to workplace hazards is important in protecting employees and others as well as University property.
Employees should use the Incident Report for reporting workplace near-misses, first-aids, injuries, and illnesses including hazards (e.g., just check the “hazard” box and answer the questions that apply).
Click here to see the Incident Reporting and Workers’ Compensation Process Flow Chart.
Office of State Human Resources Workers’ Compensation Program
The North Carolina State Government Workers’ Compensation Program is administered and managed by the Office of State Human Resources. The purpose of the program is to ensure that all eligible employees who experience a work-related injury or illness receive appropriate medical care and equitable benefits as provided under the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Office of State Human Resources Workers’ Compensation Policy.
The State is a self-insured employer and has contracted with a Third Party Administrator (TPA), CorVel, to handle the workers’ compensation claims of employees. The TPA is responsible for all compensation and medical bill payments through a workers’ compensation fund established by State agencies and universities and administered by the Office of the State Controller, in cooperation with the Office of State Human Resources.
The Workers’ Compensation Program is designed to assist any employee who suffers injury through an accident or occupational disease arising out of, and in the course of, their employment, according to the provisions of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. This act applies to all university employees, whether full-time, part-time, or temporary.
Employees
Employees are our most valuable resource. We want to keep our employees safe and make sure that they get the medical treatment they deserve if they are injured on the job. All state employees are encouraged to find and report hazardous working conditions so that we can all prevent workplace injuries.
Employees are encouraged to read the North Carolina State Employee Workers’ Compensation Handbook. This resource is designed to provide all state employees with an understanding of the benefits and coverage available by the state. You can also e-mail your questions about the North Carolina State Workers’ Compensation Program to workerscomp@nc.gov.
Supervisors and Managers
Supervisors and Managers are encouraged to read the North Carolina State Supervisor Workers’ Compensation Handbook. This resource is designed to provide management with an understanding of the Workers’ Compensation process, benefits, and coverage to which their employees are entitled.
Reporting a Workplace Injury or Illness
Sometimes incidents happen at work. The University wants to prevent them, but your help is needed to keep you and your coworkers safe on the job. If you see a hazard or an unsafe working condition, please try to fix it if you can. If you can’t, place a sign near the hazard and report it to your supervisor as soon as possible.
If you are injured, you must tell your supervisor or manager immediately, no matter how minor it may seem. If you need medical treatment other than first aid, your supervisor or manager will send you to an authorized physician for medical treatment. In an emergency, you will be sent for medical treatment immediately without delay. A list of medical providers can be found under “Authorized Medical Providers” on this web page.
You must complete an Incident Report detailing your injury. Your supervisor or manager will complete the Supervisor’s Incident Investigation Report. If there are any witnesses to the incident, please encourage them to complete an Incident Witness Statement.
On the day of your injury, you will not be charged leave for the time lost from work due to your injury. However, you are expected to return to work on the day of the injury unless the initial medical provider (authorized treating physician) whom you are referred to for treatment says you must go home for the day. If the treating physician allows you to return to your job under work restrictions, your supervisor will provide light duty until such time you are medically released to return to full duty. Please see the University’s Return to Work Policy 3262.
Your authorized treating physician will provide you with a written note for any time out of work or assigned work restrictions related to your work-related injury or illness.
You must give all work notes to your supervisor or workers’ compensation administrator as soon as possible upon receipt.
Your ongoing medical treatment will be directed by the Third Party Administrator (CorVel) assigned adjuster that handles claims on behalf of the University.
If the injury results in more than one lost work day, you must go on workers’ compensation leave (refer to Employee Leave Usage Form). There is a seven-day waiting period where no compensation for time lost from work will be provided unless the injury results in disability for more than 21 days, then compensation will be allowed from the date of disability. You may use vacation or sick leave in lieu of taking workers’ compensation leave during this seven-day waiting period. Consult with your human resources staff for more information about these policies.
The NC Workers’ Compensation Act provides medical benefits and compensation for your time lost from work and any permanent disability that results from your injury.
Your weekly benefit is 66 2/3% of your average weekly wages up to a statutorily calculated annual maximum amount. You may also use Supplemental Leave while you are completely out of work due to your injury.
The University has a structured Workers’ Compensation Return-To-Work Policy 3261. The University will use this policy to provide you with modified/restricted duty employment that complies with the work restrictions indicated by your physician during the healing period for your injury. After reaching maximum medical improvement, the University will work with you to accommodate your work restrictions to facilitate your return to suitable employment.
After reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI), you may be entitled to compensation for a permanent partial disability that is a result of your work-related injury.
The University is responsible for payment of medical treatment and loss of wages for their employees’ workers’ compensation claims.
Contact the Workers’ Compensation Administrator (WCA) at 828-251-6038 for questions or assistance.
Authorized Medical Providers
If you live outside the Asheville area, you can use CorVel’s Preferred Providers Network to locate medical providers near you.
Mercy Urgent Care West (Closest to UNCA)
Mercy Urgent Care East
Mercy Urgent Care North
Mercy Urgent Care South
Mission Hospital Emergency Room
Workers’ Compensation Policies, Handbooks & Forms
University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA)
UNCA Workers’ Compensation Program Policy 3260
UNCA’s Return-To-Work Policy 3261
UNCA North Carolina State Employee Workers’ Compensation Handbook Acknowledgement
Office of State Human Resources (OSHR)
OSHR Workers’ Compensation Leave Policy
OSHR Workers’ Compensation Employee Leave Usage Form
Reporting of Amputations, Loss of an Eye, Hospitalizations, and Fatalities
North Carolina State Employee Workers’ Compensation Handbook
North Carolina State Supervisor Workers’ Compensation Handbook
North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) Forms
Employer Postings & Locations
Employer Required Postings
North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) Form-17
North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) Law Poster
OSHA 300 Summary of Occupational Injuries & Illnesses (SOII)
The employer is required to post the summary from February 1st until April 30th (for the previous year’s incidents).
Current (Paper versions of) Summary Posting Locations
- Highsmith Union
- Millar Facilities Complex
- Phillips Hall (2nd Floor Landing)
- Student Health Center (WT Weaver)
- Weizenblatt Hall (Main Lobby)
Links to (Electronic versions of) Past Summaries
OSHA 300A 2023 Summary of Occupational Injuries & Illnesses
OSHA 300A 2022 Summary of Occupational Injuries & Illnesses
OSHA 300A 2021 Summary of Occupational Injuries & Illnesses
Terms & Definitions
ACCIDENT – An unlooked for and untoward event which is not expected or designed by the injured employee; a result produced by a fortuitous cause. An accident results in an interruption in the normal work routine caused by the accident.
COMPENSATION – The monetary relief for the loss of wages due to work-related injury; also, payment for disability ratings given when disabling injuries occur. Types of compensation paid to employees covered by the Act are:
- Compensation for disability depends upon the extent of the injury.
- Compensation in stipulated amounts for loss of some part of the body.
- Compensation for death.
- Compensation for bodily disfigurement.
DISABILITY – Incapacity because of an accidental injury to earn wages that the employee was receiving at the time of the injury in the same or any other employment. The types of disability are:
- Permanent Partial Disability – Any injury which results in the complete loss or loss of use of any member or part of the body. A disability rating, stated in percentage, is given by the treating physician when the employee has reached maximum medical improvement.
- Permanent Total Disability – Any injury other than death that results in the complete and permanent total incapacity of the employee from following any gainful occupation.
- Temporary Partial Disability – Any injury or disability that renders the employee able to work but at a lesser rate of earnings than that of the average weekly wage of his occupation at the time of the accident.
- Temporary Total Disability – Any disability that renders the injured employee unable to perform a regularly established job on one or more calendar days following the day of injury.
FIRST AID TREATMENT – One-time treatment and subsequent observation of minor scratches, cuts, burns, splinters, etc., which do not ordinarily require medical care.
INJURY – Injury and personal injury shall mean only those injuries caused by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment. With respect to back injuries and hernias, however, injury shall mean those that arise out of and in the course of the work assigned resulting directly from a specific traumatic incident.
LOST WORKDAY – Any day for which the employee is unable to earn or is not paid a full day’s wage as a result of the injury or illness. These days are counted on a calendar basis and are used to determine when an employee may begin to draw compensation.
MEDICAL-ONLY CLAIMS – Those claims that have a medical cost that does not exceed $2,000.00 and there is one day or less of time lost from work. These claims are accumulated by the agency and totals are submitted to the Industrial Commission once a year.
Workers’ Compensation FAQs
What is Workers’ Compensation?
The Workers’ Compensation law provides medical benefits and disability compensation including a weekly compensation benefit for time lost. The weekly benefit is equal to 66 2/3% of the employee’s average weekly earnings up to a maximum established by the Industrial Commission each year. When an employee is injured, he/she must go on workers’ compensation leave and receive workers’ compensation weekly benefits after the waiting period required by statute (G.S. 97-28).
Who is covered under the State Government Workers’ Compensation Program?
All North Carolina State Government employees are covered under the State Government Workers’ Compensation Program. This includes all agency and university employees and officers. It also includes all State elected officials, members of the General Assembly, or those appointed by the Governor to serve on a per diem, part-time, or fee basis. It covers full-time employees, part-time employees, and temporary employees.
What benefits are provided under the Workers’ Compensation Program?
The law provides medical and disability compensation including a weekly compensation benefit for time lost from work which is 66 2/3% of the employee’s average weekly wage up to a maximum established annually by the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC). There is a seven calendar day waiting period where no compensation for lost time will be allowed. During this time, employees may elect to go on leave without pay or use any sick or vacation leave accrued prior to the injury. An explanation of leave options and continuation of other benefits may be found in the Workers’ Compensation Leave section of the State Human Resources Policy.
Who administers the Workers’ Compensation Program for my employer?
Your employer is responsible for administering their own program, including funding medical treatment and compensation for loss of wages for employees experiencing a work-related injury or occupational illness. A Third Party Administrator (TPA) contracted by the state, handles the individual workers’ compensation cases for the University of North Carolina System (UNCS). The TPA currently responsible for handling those workers’ compensation claims is CorVel, which has an office located in Charlotte.
What should an employee do in the event of a work-related injury or illness?
An employee who is injured on the job or contracts an occupational disease as defined in the Workers’ Compensation Act must notify his or her supervisor immediately and complete the incident report as soon as possible. An explanation of workers’ compensation coverage, including the employees’ entitlements, rights, and duties may be found in the North Carolina State Government Workers’ Compensation Employee Handbook, a copy of which may be obtained from the Environmental Health Safety Website under Incident Prevention, Reporting, & Investigation Program or the Workers’ Compensation Administrator at 828-251-6038.
What are the responsibilities of the supervisor when an employee is injured on the job or diagnosed with an occupational illness?
The supervisor has the responsibility of ensuring that the employee receives medical treatment immediately and notifying the Workers’ Compensation Administrator, or designee, as soon as possible in order to begin the process of administering the claim. The supervisor should be aware of where to direct the employee for medical treatment (unless it is a life-threatening emergency). A list of authorized healthcare providers may be obtained from the Environmental Health Safety Website under the Incident Prevention, Reporting, & Investigation Program or the Workers’ Compensation Administrator at 828-251-6038.
What are the responsibilities of the University?
The following are the primary responsibilities:
- Administer an effective and efficient Workers’ Compensation program.
- Effectively communicate Workers’ Compensation policy and procedures to all employees.
- Facilitate good employee relations with respect to Workers’ Compensation claims.
- Maintain a thorough working knowledge of the Workers’ Compensation Act and Industrial Commission rules, regulations, and procedures.
- Assure that injury notices are received from supervisors in a timely manner.
- Assure reimbursement of funds to the Workers’ Compensation Fund on a monthly basis.
- Ensure completion of Form-19s, or other appropriate/required forms, and forward to the third party administrator (CorVel), where applicable.
- Coordinate Workers’ Compensation claims accident investigations with the Environmental Health & Safety Officer and third-party administrator (CorVel).
- Coordinate pay, including benefits, for all employees who are involved in a Workers’ Compensation claim.
- Participate in hearings and settlement agreements.
- Develop and administer an effective return-to-work program.
- Coordinate University participation in Industrial Commission hearings when necessary.
- Assure accurate salary continuation of employees involved in Workers’ Compensation cases, where applicable.