• Is signed and dated by the highest ranking official or designate.
• Is posted in a prominent place in hard copy or available electronically at all workplaces.
• Is reviewed annually and updated as required.
• Is communicated to all workers, with information on how it applies to their specific workplace.
• Demonstrates the employer’s commitment to return to work in accordance with the Commission’s Policy Re-18: Hierarchy of Return-to-Work and Accommodation and Section 89 of the Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Act .
• Reflects the re-employment obligation under section 89.1 of the Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Act (refer to Policy Re-05 “Re-employment Obligation”) for those employers who have this obligation.
• Includes references to:
  • Communicating with the worker during the return-to-work process and protecting confidential information
  • Committing to cooperation 
  • The roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in return to work including, but not limited to: the employer, injured worker, health care provider(s), co-workers, the Commission and where appropriate, the union, return-to-work representatives etc.
• Reference to joint consultation with workers in the development, monitoring, evaluation and revision of the Return-to-work program for large PRIME assessment employers.
• Is developed in joint and meaningful consultation with workers as defined in Criteria 5 of Policy PR-06 for provincially-regulated employers and Policy PR-07 for federally-regulated employers.

2. Injury Reporting System

You must establish an Injury Reporting Process that:

• Is communicated to all workers and outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a work injury.This process would include but not be limited to:
  • Designating a person(s) to whom an injury(ies) will be reported
  • Facilitating employer transportation of the worker to appropriate medical care (as defined in per section 87 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act )
  • Submitting forms to the Commission
  • Ensuring the injured worker returns the employer’s copy of the Physician’s Report of Injury or Chiropractor’s Report of Injury 

Forms

• Updated Commission forms must be available either in paper copy or online.These forms would include:
  • Form 6 – Worker’s Report of Injury
  • Form 7 – Employer’s Report of Injury
  • Early and Safe Return-to-Work Plan Form or an alternate form acceptable to the Commission
• Forms that are considered acceptable to the Commission include the following:
  • Employee Name
  • Claim Number
  • Pre-injury Position 
  • Return-to-work schedule including dates, hours and hourly wage
  • Signed and dated by the employee and employer
• Injury Reporting System must be developed in joint and meaningful consultation with workers as defined in Criteria 5 of Policy PR-06 for provincially regulated employers and Policy PR-07 for federally regulated employers for large PRIME assessment employers.

3. Return-to-Work Planning

You must establish a Planning Protocol that:

• Is done in accordance with the section 89 of the Act (refer to Policy RE-02 “The Goal of Early and Safe and the Role of the Parties ”) and section 89.1 (refer to Policy RE-05 “Re-employment Obligation”) Your protocol must:
• Outline the steps to be followed from the time of injury to the completion of return-to-work and reflect Policy RE-18 (Hierarchy of Return-to-Work and Accommodation).
• Be supported by using the appropriate forms such as the Early and Safe Return-to-Work Plan or alternate form acceptable to the Commission to ensure that workers are involved in the development of the return-to-work plan.
• Indicate that confidential information is protected (refer to Policy RE-03 “Functional Abilities Information for return-to-work”).
• Demonstrate that employer communicates with the Commission as required by section 89 of the Act.  

4. Return-to-Work Program Documentation

You must establish Policies and/or Procedures that:

• Outline the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the parties involved in the return-to-work program as outlined in your return-to-work policy statement.
• Include guidelines for addressing workplace accommodation issues required by legislation for your specific workplace.
• Include guidelines for advising the Commission of disputes between the workplace parties regarding a return-to-work plan.

5. Joint Mechanism for Consulting

Consultation Mechanism

• Meaningful consultation must occur between management and employees on return-to-work program elements.
• Meaningful consultation must occur between management and employees on complex return-to-work issues. 

6. Evaluation and Communication

Evaluation Protocol
Your return-to-work program must be evaluated through a joint mechanism on an annual basis.

Communication Protocol
Your return-to-work program must be communicated through a joint mechanism to all employees on an annual basis.

Revision Protocol
Your return-to-work program must be revised through a joint mechanism.

For more information on return to work program injury reporting please contact:

St. John’s (709) 778-1000 Toll free 1-800-563-9000
Grand Falls-Windsor (709) 489-1600 Toll free 1-800-563-3448
Corner Brook (709) 637-2700 Toll free 1-800-563-2772

If you are calling to discuss your PRIME requirements call 778-2922 or email prime@whscc.nl.ca.