PURDUE UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE BUSINESS MANAGER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907

To: Deans, Directors and Heads of Schools, Divisions, Departments and Offices

Re: BUSINESS OFFICE MEMORANDUM NO. 96

Workmen's Compensation Insurance


Effective Date: 1 February 1965, Purdue University has fully insured its obligations under the Workmen's Compensation and Occupational Diseases Acts of Indiana. Prior to 1 February 1965, the University was self-insured with respect to Workmen's Compensation for most employees.

As a result of this new coverage, several major changes are being made to the University Workmen's Compensation procedures. These major changes are reviewed below. More detailed information will be included in the next revision of the Business Procedure Manual.

  1. Insurance Premiums

    Beginning with the biweekly payroll paid 24 February 1965 and the monthly payroll paid 26 February 1965, charges made to specific accounts covering the cost of staff benefits will include premium charges for Workmen's Compensation Insurance and for General Liability Insurance. Departmental general funds (Fund 10) will not be charged. The premium rates are given below:

    a. Workmen's Compensation Insurance       Per $100 of Salaries
    Academic, administrative, extension, research
    and clerical salaries and wages (subject to a maximum
    charge of $.65 per person per month)
         
    $.0512
     
    Service staff salaries and wages (except pilot and bus
    driver salaries which are at a special rate)
         
    $.4551
     
    b. General Liability Insurance      
    All salaries and wages        $.0304

  2. Coverage

    All University employees (except certain staff in the Cooperative Extension Service) are protected by Workmen's Compensation. This includes student employees.

    Any accident involving injury to an employee of the University falls under the State Workmen's Compensation law, if the injury occurs while the employee is on the premises of the University for the purpose of carrying out his assigned duties, or if it occurs while he is carrying out his assigned duties during travel on University business.

    Basically the law provides that for employee on-the-job injuries, the employer (or its insurance carrier) is required to pay the medical expenses and to compensate the employee for lost time, if any.

  3. Reports

    The instructions below do not apply to the Regional Campuses and University Farms outside Tippecanoe County. These areas have received special instructions.

    1. Student Health Center Request

      Wherever practical, employees injured while at work should be referred to the Student Health Center for treatment. If possible, a completed Student Health Center Request (Form 22) should be sent with the employee. One copy, reporting the doctor's treatment, will be returned to the department the day following the first visit.

    2. Employer's Report of Injury

      Employer's Reports will no longer be required on every injury. If the employee is treated at the Student Health Center, the Center will ask the department to submit an Employer's Report of Injury (Industrial Board Division Form No. 24) reporting only those injuries that are of a serious nature. The attending physician will make this determination. In general, reports will be requested if the employee is expected to be off work more than three days; if treatment is expected to continue for more than a month; if medical expenses are expected to exceed $50; or if the Student Health Center refers the employee to another physician.

      An Employer's Report must be submitted in every case where the employee is treated by a physician other than one at the Student Health Center.

      All Employer's Reports should be submitted in triplicate to the Department of Staff Benefits and Payroll.

    3. Attending Physician's Report

      Attending Physician's Reports (Industrial Board Division Form No. 26), then required, will be furnished to the Insurance Company by the Student Health Center. If the employee is treated by a doctor outside the Student Health Center, the Insurance Company will secure a report from the attending physician.

    4. Other Workmen's Compensation Forms

      The Insurance Company will arrange for the completion and execution of all other forms (Compensation Agreements, Final Receipts, etc.).

  4. Payment of Medical Expenses

    All medical expenses will be paid directly by the Insurance Company. The Student Health Center will discontinue charging University accounts for treatment of employee on-the-job injuries occurring 1 February 1965 and after.

    Any bills for medical and hospital expenses received by the department or employee should be forwarded to the Department of Staff Benefits and Payroll.

  5. Payment of Compensation

    If the injury causes temporary total disability of more than seven days duration, the Insurance Company will compensate the employee for lost time as prescribed by the Workmen's Compensation law.

    During the first seven days, regular salary may be continued provided there is unused, earned sick leave which can be charged.

Questions regarding this change in procedure should be referred to the Department of Staff Benefits and Payroll, Telephone Number 92-2617.

 

D. F. Finn
Business Manager and
Assistant Treasurer