RETURN TO WORK POLICY STATEMENT

HPZ will make every reasonable effort to provide suitable return to work opportunities for every worker who is unable to perform his or her regular duties following a work-related injury or illness.

PURPOSE

HPZ will make every effort to help an injured worker to stay at work (SAW) or to return to work (RTW). The RTW program will ensure that as a company we are committed and able to supply modified / accommodated duties to all workers, where possible, without undue hardship. This procedure applies to all workers with an injury, illness or disability, regardless of its cause, type or nature which results from absence from work.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Employer (represented by Chief of Operations)

  • At the time of accident or reported injury

    • Get first aid immediately, if needed.

    • The employer arranges and pays for transportation for medical care, if needed.

    • The employer pays wages for day of injury.

    • The employer reports the injury/illness to the WSIB within four days if it involves: health care treatment, time off work or lost wages using Form 7.

    • Investigate the accident.

  • Following the accident or reported injury

    • Contact the worker as soon as possible after the injury.

    • Maintain communication throughout their recovery and return to work,

    • Submit reports to the WSIB as needed or requested

      • Return to Work Plan form

      • Return to Work Progress Report form

  • With the worker,

    • Develop a RTW plan following the injury using the functional abilities on the second page of the Form 8, issued to the worker by the initial treating practitioner.

    • Attempt to provide suitable work. In other words, work that:

      • Is safe and within the worker's (functional) physical capabilities

      • The worker has the skills to do (or can acquire the skills to do)

      • Restores the worker's pre-injury earnings as closely as possible.

    • Document the RTW plan and provide a copy to the worker and WSIB.

    • Provide a Return to Work package to the worker (doctor letter, Functional Abilities Form (FAF), date for meeting on return to work, letter to Health Professional, letter of offer) as applicable.

      • Provide timelines to the worker for the prompt return of the Functional Abilities Form for ongoing treatment.

    • Review the RTW plan to ensure it is current and reflects the worker’s functional abilities.

      • Monitor the progress of the worker’s modified duties through bi-weekly meetings with the worker and supervisor.

      • Ensure medical follow-up is obtained at a pre-arranged schedule (as determined in the RTW plan).

      • If changes are needed – revise the RTW plan, copy the worker and WSIB.​

Supervisor

  • At the time of accident or reported injury

    • Get first aid immediately, if needed.

    • Arrange and pay for transportation for medical care, if needed.

    • Notify the employer of the accident or reported injury

    • If needed, assist the employer to the injury/illness to the WSIB within four days if it involves: health care treatment, time off work or lost wages using Form 7.

    • Assist the employer to investigate the accident.

  • Work with employer to

    • Advise the worker of the availability of transitional work and provide the required forms.

    • Assist in the creation of and support the worker's RTW plan.

    • Maintain communication with the worker on modified duties and monitor their progress and the effectiveness of the plan.

    • Inform other workers as may be required.

    • Communicate and assist in the evaluation of the plan's effectiveness through regular meetings scheduled with the worker.

    • Communicate with the injured worker regularly and, document the communication.

    • Schedule bi-weekly sit-down meetings with the worker, as appropriate.

Worker

  • At the time of accident or reported injury

    • Report the injury to employer or supervisor.

    • Get proper medical treatment immediately following a work-related injury or illness and follow the recommendations of the health professional.

  • Following the accident or reported injury,

    • Complete a Form 6 Worker’s Report of Injury and return the Form 6 to the WSIB.

    • Return to work after the injury with the second page of the Form 8, to discuss functional abilities and workplace duties.

    • Take RTW package provided by the employer to a health professional and return the FAF as soon as possible, as instructed by the employer, for medical follow-up appointments.

    • Be in regular contact with the employer and supervisor.

    • Communicate any concerns to the employer or supervisor.

    • Obtain the necessary forms from the treating health care professional, as may be required, by the employer.

    • Ensure that appointments with health care professionals are continued while on modified duty. These appointments are to be arranged whenever possible during non-work hours.

  • Work with the employer and supervisor in developing a RTW plan

    • Co-operate with all requests for documentation as required by the WSIB and the Employer.

    • Attend all scheduled RTW meetings.

    • Communicate any changes / modifications needed to the RTW plan to the supervisor as soon as they are known.​

Health Professional(s)

  • Provide up to date functional abilities information, initially on the Form 8 or as requested on the Functional Abilities Form (FAF).

  • Fill in the forms, as requested.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

  • Process information on a timely basis to provide service and support to employer and worker

  • Act as a resource regarding functional abilities, the suitability of modified work.​​

COMMUNICATION

Revisions or modifications of this procedure will be communicated to the supervisor. The supervisor will then communicate any revisions to their workers immediately, if required, or at the next scheduled team meeting. A quarterly summary of injuries / illnesses will be prepared by the supervisor and submitted to the employer for review and corrective action, as needed. This procedure will be reviewed annually. Only the employer has the authorization to make any changes to the procedure. The method of communication referred to in the RTW Plan includes phone or written. Any phone contact must be documented. Employers, supervisors and worker are responsible for maintaining the documentation on the RTW plan.​

TRAINING

Employer will ensure that workers know and understand the RTW policy and procedure within 2 days of hire. This policy and the return-to-work process will be reviewed by all workers on an annual basis, or as required.

EVALUATION

The Chief of Operations will review RTW effectiveness, at least annually, by reviewing any Form 7, RTW plans and accident investigations.

FORMS

  • WSIB Form 6 – Workers Reporting an Injury, Illness or Exposure

  • WSIB Form 7 – Employer’s Report of Injury

  • WSIB Form 8 – Health Professional’s Report

  • WSIB Functional Abilities form

  • HPZ Return To Work Plan form

  • HPZ Return To Work Progress Report form

All WSIB forms are available at www.wsib.ca/en.
All HPZ forms are
available electronically in the Forms Centre
​

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (www.wsib.ca)