Responsibilities For Employees

If you are injured at work, or have a work-related illness, you may be entitled to injury compensation benefits provided under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Federal employees have certain rights and responsibilities in filing for these benefits. If you are injured at work, or have a work-related illness:

  • Immediately report any work-related injury to your supervisor.
  • If you require emergency medical treatment, obtain care first, and then notify your supervisor as soon as possible after receiving treatment.
  • If you sustain a traumatic injury, you may obtain a Form CA-16, Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment, from your supervisor or your Workers' Compensation Program Specialist.
  • If your injury results from a specific event or a series of events during one day or shift, complete a Form CA-1, Federal Employee's Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after your injury online in the Safety Management Information System (SMIS).
  • If you do not have access to a computer, your supervisor or Workers' Compensation Program Specialist can assist you in initiating the claim. If access is not available, your supervisor or Workers' Compensation Program Specialist can provide you with a paper copy of form CA-1, to complete and submit to your supervisor as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after the injury.
  • If you develop a condition due to prolonged exposure lasting more than one day or shift, complete a Form CA-2, Federal Employee's Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation, online in the SMIS as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after your injury online in the SMIS.
  • If you do not have access to a computer, your supervisor or Workers' Compensation Program Specialist can assist you in initiating the claim. If access is not available, your supervisor or Workers' Compensation Program Specialist can provide you with a paper copy of form CA-2, to complete and submit to your supervisor as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after the injury.
  • Supervisors and Workers' Compensation Program Specialists can assist injured workers in completion of claim forms, and the SMIS Help Desk provides assistance with online filing of claims.
  • You must obtain witness statement(s). The statements can be entered into the SMIS or you can provide a printed copy of claim form to witness to complete witness section of form. The claim forms must be completed as precisely as possible in order to avoid delays caused by the need for additional information. You may be asked to provide additional information, beyond what was already provided.
  • Although your supervisor or Workers' Compensation Program Specialist may assist you, it is your responsibility to obtain the information needed to support your claim.
  • If you are temporarily unable to work because of your injury, you need to keep your supervisor informed about your medical condition, and return to work as soon as your physician allows you to do so.
  • You should have a discussion with your supervisor about the availability of appropriate light-duty assignments during your recovery period. Your supervisor will complete the supervisory component of Form CA-17, Duty Status Report, and will give it to you to provide to your doctor for completion of the medical component of the form based upon your medical examination. The CA-17 should include a copy of your current position description as an attachment.
  • You must provide your supervisor a copy of the completed form from your doctor indicating any medical limitations or restrictions specified.
  • You are obligated to return to regular duty as soon as you are able to do so, and to avoid activities while on workers' compensation that might aggravate the injury/condition.
  • You may find the following Department of Labor Office of Workers' Compensation Programs publications of assistance to you:

Other Resources:

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