• Ask questions if they suspect a work injury.
• Direct employee to appropriate medical care.
• Report all injuries to your school's claim coordinator immediately.
• Give the coordinator all available information.

Supervisors are key because they:

• Know the operation and employees.
• Have direct contact with employees.
• Can observe work styles and behaviors.
• Have the responsibility and authority to act.

• How, when and to whom to report.
• Where to seek medical care.

Your claim coordinator's '5-Step Response'
SFM's 5-Step Response can help organize your response when an injury happens. It can save you time and confusion. It will help you avoid mistakes that trigger state penalties. And it may save your school other costly hassles, such as litigation, down the road.

The five steps claims coordinators should follow:

1. Duty to inquire. If you suspect that an employee is injured, ask him. It's the law.
2. Get the proper care. Send the injured worker to your designated clinic.
3. Gather information. Investigate what happened. Question co-workers and supervisors to get all the facts.
4. Fill out the First Report of Injury as completely and accurately as possible. The employee's benefits depend on it.
5. Report the injury to SFM. Go online and submit the First Report. It's the fastest, easiest way to report.

Be proactive in injury management. Set the expectations up front with employees. Communicate their responsibilities:

• Promptly reporting if they've been injured.
• Accepting medical help when necessary.
• Reporting back to the supervisor with updates.
• Following doctor's orders.
• Keeping on-going communication.

Taking an organized, disciplined approach to reporting is a key to getting the claim off to a good start so it can be managed to a successful resolution.

Advice from SFM's print publication

Federal ADA changes

A new law redefines "disability" under the federal ADA. An employee likely will now have an easier time establishing that he or she is "substantially limited" by an impairment, including an impairment resulting from a work injury.

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