WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAM
Introduction
The purpose of this program is to establish
procedures for administering Workers’ Compensation
and work related injury(ies)/illness(es)
disability leave for employees and volunteers
of Pinellas County Government in accordance
with state laws and rules. Pinellas County
as an employer is self-insured for Workers’
Compensation coverage. The program is administered
by Risk Management and acts as the “insurance
carrier” for the purpose of paying benefits
and fulfilling the County’s obligation to
provide Workers’ Compensation insurance to
it’s employees and to facilitate the worker’s
return to gainful reemployment. The process
is intended to be self-executing. If you’ve
had a workers’ compensation injury in the
past, you should be aware that the Law is
constantly changing.
Pinellas County is committed to providing
a safe and healthy environment for its employees.
As part of that commitment, employees and supervisors
are responsible for continually reviewing and
assessing workplace safety and workers’ compensation
injuries to determine where they are occurring
and to develop programs that correct unsafe
conditions and practices within the work unit.
Employees are expected to practice good safety
habits and observe appropriate precautions
at all times for the protection of themselves
and their co-workers. Even when every precaution
is taken, injuries on the job may occur. If
an injury does occur, the supervisor must be
notified immediately.
Legal rules govern when an employee or volunteer
may be covered if he/she is injured while engaged
in social or recreational events. Generally,
such injuries are not covered unless the department
director or supervisor required the employee
or volunteer to participate in the event and
the County received a substantial benefit because
the employee or volunteer participated.
The law requires that the employer be responsible
for all accidental injuries and occupational
diseases arising out of and in the course of
employment and diseases and infections resulting
from such injuries. It also covers death resulting
from such injuries within specific periods
of time. Generally, no compensation is payable
if the injury was caused primarily by the employee’s
intoxication, by the influence of non-prescribed
drugs, or willful intention to injury or kill
himself or another person. Compensation is
also not payable if an employee suffers from
a disease that reveals itself as a fear of
or dislike for a person because of his or her
race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
age, or handicap. An injury resulting from
stress, fright, or excitement causing a mental
or nervous condition is not considered to be
an injury arising out of the course and scope
of employment.
County employees are not eligible for workers’
compensation benefits from the County if injured
while performing mentor/volunteer services
or while traveling to and from. The employees
are considered to be volunteers or employees
for the school districts, etc., for whom they
are providing services.
The law also provides that if the injury is
caused by the knowing refusal of the employee
to use a safety appliance or observe a safety
rule, compensation may be reduced by 25%.
An employee who is coming to work or going
home from work is not eligible for workers’
compensation benefits unless the employee was
at the time performing a special errand or
duties required by the employer or driving
a County vehicle. Law Enforcement employees
are not covered unless they are discharging
a primary responsibility within the state in
a place and under circumstances reasonably
consistent with that primary responsibility.
400
South Ft. Harrison Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3664 / Fax (727) 464-4060
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