This morning while gearing up

[Paul343]

This morning I was jogging across my departments bay after we were toned to a confirmed structure fire. I made a turn around our utility vehicle headed for my locker when I slipped in a puddle of motor oil. I fell and hit my head the bottom of a near locker. I pulled a muscle in my neck and skinned my arms up a little.

The confirmed structure fire turned out to be a window mounted AC unit on fire, which didn't take long to take care of. It was later after the run sitting in our meeting room talking about my fall that I jokingly said I should file for workmans comp, when the question arose. Could a FF file for workmans comp for something like that? Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to manipulate the system, I'm going to the Chiropractor this afternoon for my neck and I can hadle the bill. But I'm curious could a FF really get workmans comp for something like that?

[hwoods]

Well.........

Workman's Comp Laws vary from State to State, But, here in Maryland, YES, Absolutely. Any injury to any member, Rookie to Chief, Paid or Volunteer, is covered by Workman's Comp. as long as the injury happened in any "on duty" capacity, INCLUDING reporting to, or going home from the Station, etc. The law goes on to require that the bill be handled by Workman's Comp, and prohibits any attempt by a Medical facility or practicioner to bill the individual or the department.

[EFD840]

This morning I was jogging across my departments bay after we were toned to a confirmed structure fire. I made a turn around our utility vehicle headed for my locker when I slipped in a puddle of motor oil. I fell and hit my head the bottom of a near locker. I pulled a muscle in my neck and skinned my arms up a little.

The confirmed structure fire turned out to be a window mounted AC unit on fire, which didn't take long to take care of. It was later after the run sitting in our meeting room talking about my fall that I jokingly said I should file for workmans comp, when the question arose. Could a FF file for workmans comp for something like that? Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to manipulate the system, I'm going to the Chiropractor this afternoon for my neck and I can hadle the bill. But I'm curious could a FF really get workmans comp for something like that?

That's exactly what workman's comp is designed to cover. If you're out of work or incur expenses from an on the job injury then you're covered. In our case you have to be out of work for three days before income protection kicks in but medical expenses are covered right from the start.

We had a FF break her ankle getting out of the rescue at an MVA. In her PPE, just stepped out of the truck like normal except this time she turned her ankle and pop. Her day job is driving an ambulance, so she was out of work for 6 weeks - workman's comp time, both for the treatment and lost wages.

One big gotcha - most if not all policies require you to file a first report of injury within a certain time frame (usually 24 to 48 hours) or they won't cover the claim but the department will still be liable. An uncovered, long term injury can bankrupt a small department and being volunteer or career makes no difference. Check the policy, know the rules, and always file that report, no matter how minor the injury seems at the time because you don't know what might turn up a week from now.

We carry the forms on our apparatus and if someone gets hurt, the IC starts the paperwork before he leaves the scene.

[MalahatTwo7]

Just a few words for thought: You should always record any injury no matter how small, when it takes place "on the job".

A while back one of the guys at Malahat received a small cut from something - about 4 days later it started to get infected..... The rest is history...... (there were no limbs or digits lost in the context of this story.)

[Shoreman22]

Happy healing, bro.

[pvfire424]

when I slipped in a puddle of motor oil.

Don't forget to address the cause !!!


or at the very least, have someone address it.

[Paul343]

Yeah I was ****ed we even had a puddle of motor oil on our bay floor. When we got back another member almost slipped in it too.

[38ffems]

I sliced both my hands very deep when starting a generator on a truck. We had an ice auger with brand new blades. The head of the auger was covered in a plastic cover. I pull to start the generator and my hands came across the blades I didn't know were there. Our policy requires an ambulance to transport any injury including this. I was quite embarassed but then again I was cut really bad. Spent the next week with lobster claws.

[Chief2701]

Workman's Comp Laws vary from State to State.

They vary alot state to state, but one common denominator would be for an "Event" (an example of a non-event would be a sore shoulder and no explanation why?) and for it to be in the course of assigned duties/scope of work. My advice would be to report this event immeadiatley to your supervisor, and to include any witness statements if any.

Good luck to you

* anybody clean up the oil?

[OFDfireman101]

Don't mess around with on the job injuries. I thought I had pulled a muscle in my neck after I got struck on the head (yes I was wearing my helmet and it had no sign of damage). Continued to work figuring it was normal that it would be sore and kinda stiff. A couple hours later I told my LT that it was starting to get pretty stiff and he immediately pulled me off the truck and sent me to get it checked out. Good thing, turns out I had fractured C7 and herniated the disk between C7 and T1. Luckily I didn't damage the cord but had I ignored it I could have easily become a quad! 3 months of rest and therapy and I was able to return to work. It's been over 4 years now and I make it a point to tell anyone who thinks they may be injured to get it documented and checked out, no matter how minor it may seem.

Stay safe and happy healing.

[ameryfd]

One big gotcha - most if not all policies require you to file a first report of injury within a certain time frame (usually 24 to 48 hours) or they won't cover the claim but the department will still be liable. .

Very true. Make sure you document it before weekend is over!

[Paul343]

Just got back from the Chiropractor. No more than a pulled muscle in my neck and a little more tension in my already bad shoulder. He treated my shoulder and I'm feeling alot better.

Right after I got back I went to the department and cleaned up the oil best I could so this didn't happen again.

[Dickey]

YES!! By all means report it. No matter how small you think it is, it could develop into something more later on.

There should always be a paper trail on injuries so you don't have to pay for shoulder surgery in 20 years!

[KevinFFVFD]

one time i was on a call and the next day when i wake up had poison ivy. i reported to one of the captains i would have to miss the dept training that day because i had poison ivy to about 40% of my body and didnt want to give it to anyone else. it did require me to go get medication and it got writen up as a firefighter injury, haha. i thought it was kinda funny.

[GodSendRain]

Manipulating the system? Not what I'd call it. It is best to take care of this situation now, report it, and be compensated, or you'll be the one manipulated if medical problems arise later that you can't foot the bill for. (You did say head injury, right?)

No one's gonna resent you for it. Hopefully, they'll be less careless about where they leave their oil puddles.