Faculty and Staff

What to Do if a Work-Related Injury, Illness, or Exposure Occurs

Last updated November 5, 2009 3:12:00 PM PST
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If you're injured, experience a hazardous material exposure, or develop a job-related illness as a result of your UCSD employment, follow the procedures below.

Important: Supervisors must immediately report all work-related deaths, catastrophes, and serious injuries or illnesses to the UCSD Workers’ Compensation Office:

  • During office hours, call (858)534-2454.
  • After office hours, contact the UCSD Police at (858) 534-4357.

The UCSD Workers’ Compensation Office is required to report the injury or illness to Cal/OSHA within 8 hours from the time of the incident. Reporting delays can result in Cal/OSHA fines to your department.

A serious injury or illness is one that requires inpatient hospitalization, or in which an employee suffers a loss of any member of the body or suffers any serious degree of permanent disfigurement.

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1. Notify your supervisor.

  • Employees: Notify your supervisor immediately if you experience a work-related injury, exposure, or illness.
  • Employees and supervisors: Follow the steps below to report the incident to the UCSD Workers' Compensation Office.

2. Report the incident.

Use either option below to report the incident:

  • Option 1:
    • Print, complete, and immediately fax the Employee and Supervisor sections of the Occupational Incident Report form (PDF) (Word) to the UCSD Workers' Compensation Office: (858) 534-5202.

    • Note: Both employees and supervisors have a section of the form to complete. Supervisors must complete both sections if employees are unable to complete their sections.

  • Option 2:
    • Call the 1-800 Reporting Line: 877-6UC-RPRT (877-682-7778) to report the incident,
      and
    • Print, complete, and immediately fax the Supervisor section of the Occupational Incident Report form (PDF) (Word) to the UCSD Workers' Compensation Office: (858) 534-5202.

    • Note: Completing this Incident Report form does not file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. See step 4.

3. Seek medical treatment, if needed.

Medical treatment options:

4. Review how to file a claim for workers' compensation benefits.


Note: Submitting the Incident Report form in step 1 does not file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

  • After receiving your Incident Report form, the UCSD Workers’ Compensation Office will monitor your medical treatment to determine if level of care exceeds first aid treatment.
    • First aid treatment may be appropriate treatment and is not considered a workers’ compensation benefit, although first aid costs will be paid by your employer.
    • If medical treatment exceeds first aid treatment at the initial or subsequent medical visits, the UCSD Workers’ Compensation Office will send you a State of California Workers’ Compensation Claim Form (DWC-1).
  • If you wish to initiate a claim:
    1. Complete and sign the Employee portion of the DWC-1 form.
    2. Describe your injury or illness completely. Include every affected part of your body.
    3. Make a copy of the form for your records.
    4. For expediency, fax a copy of the form to the UCSD Workers’ Compensation Office: (858) 534-5202.
    5. Mail the original form to Mail Code 0925. By returning the DWC-1 form, you are actually filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
  • For details on procedures relating to workers' compensation claims, benefits, and responsibilities, check the following guides for:

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For more information, campus-funded employees, call (858) 822-2979 or 534-4785 and UCSD Medical Center-funded employees, call (619) 543-7877.