LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMINISTRATION
Reviewed Date:
Effective Date:
05/26/97
Supersedes:
NEW
I.
TRANSITIONAL WORK
ASSIGNMENTS (LIGHT DUTY)
SOP
100.12
Page 1 of 7
INTRODUCTION
A.
Purpose: To bring together in one policy the various State laws and
administrative regulations, as well as the Civil Service and City rules
applicable to the assignment of employees suffering disabling injuries on
the job.
B.
Scope: These instructions are to be used by all employees not able to
perform the duties of their regularly assigned work because of an injury or
illness.
C.
Author: The Deputy Chief of Administration, through the SOP Coordinator,
shall be responsible for the content, revision and review of this instruction.
D.
Authority: Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 616, 617, and 618, Civil
Service Rules, City Policies and Department Rules & Regulations.
E.
Definitions:
1.
Temporary Partial Disability: An injury or illness that limits the
ability of an employee to temporarily perform the tasks in their
regularly assigned work.
2.
Job-Related Injury/Illness:
Injury or illness incurred in the
performance of the job and accepted by the Risk Management
Section as a workers’ compensation claim, under the provisions of
NRS 616 and 617.
3.
Transitional Work Assignments (Light Duty): Modified work
assignments, provided on a temporary basis, to industrially-injured
employees, which meet their temporary physical restrictions, allowing
them to transition back to their regular, full duty job.
LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMINISTRATION
Reviewed Date:
Effective Date:
05/26/97
Supersedes:
NEW
II.
III.
TRANSITIONAL WORK
ASSIGNMENTS (LIGHT DUTY)
SOP
100.12
Page 2 of 7
RESPONSIBILITY
A.
All Personnel: Any employee unable to perform their regular job duties
because of an injury or illness, but can perform on a restricted or limited
duty basis with the approval of the treating physician shall follow these
instructions.
B.
Deputy Chief of Administration shall coordinate the light duty program
between the employee, their supervisor, and the City’s Workers’
Compensation Administration Division.
C.
Office Specialist II assigned to the workers’ compensation program is
responsible for completion of required forms and coordination of paperwork
between the employee and the City’s Workers’ Compensation
Administration Division. The Office Specialist II also maintains the
necessary files and log books for the light duty program.
D.
Injured/Ill Employee assigned to light duty shall follow this instruction and
comply with all requirements imposed by the treating physician. All light
duty employees will report to the Deputy Chief of Administration for
transitional work (light duty) assignments.
POLICY
The following policy is to be followed by employees assigned to transitional work
(light duty) status as the result of an injury or illness preventing performance of
their regularly assigned duties.
A.
All employees on workers’ compensation leave will be provided transitional
work (light duty) assignments, if available and if authorized by the
employee’s physician.
The fire department may not always have
transitional work (light duty) assignments available. If the department does
not have a transitional work (light duty) assignment available, the Workers’
Compensation Administration Division will attempt to locate a light duty
assignment elsewhere in the City.
LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMINISTRATION
Reviewed Date:
Effective Date:
05/26/97
Supersedes:
NEW
TRANSITIONAL WORK
ASSIGNMENTS (LIGHT DUTY)
SOP
100.12
Page 3 of 7
B.
The authorizing physician must indicate any restrictions the employee may
have due to the injury or illness. The City will list the duties expected while
on light duty and provide these to the treating physician for approval. If an
employee is offered transitional work (light duty) and refuses, he/she must
use their accrued sick leave instead of workers’ compensation leave.
C.
Employees on transitional work (light duty) status are responsible for
following their physician’s instructions. This includes keeping all follow-up
physician appointments and any physical therapy or other required therapy
appointments.
D.
The injured or ill employee must submit all status reports and related
paperwork to the Office Specialist II assigned to workers’ compensation in
Administration.
E.
The duty status of employees placed in transitional work (light duty)
assignments will be reviewed on a monthly basis by the Workers’
Compensation Section. This review will be conducted by contacting the
treating physician to determine the expected date of return to full duty, no
less than every thirty (30) days.
F.
Any employee in a transitional work (light duty) assignment for more than
ninety (90) days, will be considered at risk for non-return to their previous
position. Their physician will be specifically requested to provide reporting
on the prognosis for return to pre-accident duty. In addition, the employee
will be required to undergo a vocational assessment with a certified
vocational rehabilitation counselor, to identify transferable skills, and/or
areas in which training may enhance their ability to be placed in an
alternative position, if it becomes necessary due to permanent restrictions.
G.
An employee assigned to a transitional work (light duty) assignment, whose
physician has determined he/she has permanent restrictions which must be
accommodated, will be advised as follows:
1.
The City of Las Vegas is no longer able to offer the transitional work
(light duty) assignment. The assignment will end on a date
determined by the fire department in consultation with the City’s
Workers’ Compensation Administration Division.
LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMINISTRATION
Reviewed Date:
Effective Date:
05/26/97
Supersedes:
NEW
IV.
TRANSITIONAL WORK
ASSIGNMENTS (LIGHT DUTY)
SOP
100.12
Page 4 of 7
2.
A vocational counselor will be provided to the employee to determine
their current transferable skills, so that available openings may be
reviewed to determine if a position for which they are qualified is
currently open.
3.
If there are no positions currently vacant, for which the employee is
qualified, the employee will be provided with a vocational counselor
to assist in job search activities, including vocational training
programs, if required.
4.
During the vocational rehabilitation period, the duration of which is
determined by the percentage of disability found in the permanent,
partial disability rating examination (as required by Nevada statute),
the employee will be eligible to collect rehabilitation maintenance
benefits, equal to their temporary, total disability benefits.
5.
If a permanent, partial disability rating examination has not already
been scheduled, one will be scheduled immediately.
PROCEDURES
A.
Transitional work (light duty) assignments are categorized into two (2)
areas:
1.
Temporary light duty due to an occupational injury or illness.
2.
Temporary light duty due to an off-duty injury or illness.
B.
When an injured or ill employee is off-duty, they are required to provide the
Office Specialist II assigned to the workers’ compensation program with a
continuing disability notification from their physician listing any restrictions.
C.
When an employee is in receipt of a light duty release, they must contact
the Deputy Chief of Administration immediately. A light duty release is a
release to return to work.
LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMINISTRATION
Reviewed Date:
Effective Date:
05/26/97
Supersedes:
NEW
TRANSITIONAL WORK
ASSIGNMENTS (LIGHT DUTY)
SOP
100.12
Page 5 of 7
D.
The employee returning to work under the light duty program will report to
the Deputy Chief of Administration. A written description of the light duty
work assigned will be provided by the Deputy Chief of Administration prior
to reporting to the light duty assignment. This written description will be
approved by the employee’s physician and the employee will also receive a
copy. See Appendix I for an example.
E.
If an employee chooses not to participate in the transitional work (light duty)
assignment, they may elect to use sick leave, annual leave, or leave without
pay, as long as the employee is unable to return to their regular position.
The City’s Workers’ Compensation Administration Division will be notified
when this occurs.
F.
Usually injured or ill employees will be placed in a transitional work (light
duty) assignment in the fire department based on their listed restrictions. If
no transitional work (light duty) assignments are available, the Workers’
Compensation Administration Division will attempt to place the employee in
another City department where work is available.
G.
The employee’s time card will be maintained in the department or division
where they are assigned. Employees assigned to City departments other
than the fire department will also have their time cards maintained in the fire
department. Wages are charged to the fire department regardless of where
in the City the employee is assigned. The time card should reflect the hours
worked as “Regular Hours.”
The employee will remain at the current pay status with all benefits while
assigned to a light duty status.
H.
MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS WHILE ON LIGHT DUTY
1.
Employees shall schedule all medical appointments before or after
normal working hours, whenever possible.
LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMINISTRATION
Reviewed Date:
Effective Date:
05/26/97
Supersedes:
NEW
2.
3.
TRANSITIONAL WORK
ASSIGNMENTS (LIGHT DUTY)
SOP
100.12
Page 6 of 7
In those cases where appointments cannot be scheduled before or
after normal working hours, the following procedure is applicable:
a)
The employee will be required to present, to the supervisor,
an appointment slip from the doctor or physical therapist,
stating the date and time of the appointment.
b)
Upon return to work from the appointment, the employee will
be required to present to the supervisor, a slip from the doctor
or physical therapist, stating the time the employee left the
office.
c)
Thirty (30) minutes will be allowed for travel to and from
appointments.
d)
The total time away from work will be recorded on the time
card on line 19, Administrative Leave.
Medical appointments for those who do not have workers’
compensation claims will be charged to sick leave.
LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMINISTRATION
Reviewed Date:
Effective Date:
05/26/97
Supersedes:
NEW
TRANSITIONAL WORK
ASSIGNMENTS (LIGHT DUTY)
SOP
100.12
Page 7 of 7
APPENDIX I
RETURN TO WORK: TRANSITIONAL WORK ASSIGNMENT
(LIGHT DUTY)
The undersigned,
, has been released by
his/her physician to return in a restricted duty capacity, and will be assigned the following
short term Transitional Work Assignment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMPLOYMENT: Employee will assist with lesson plan development and
revisions, run various errands for training personnel. Participate in Fire Service Career Programs,
as requested by various public schools. Will assist on other assignments that do not require lifting
or carrying of heavy weighted items.
DESCRIPTION OF PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The Physician’s recommendations will be
strictly adhered to regarding how much one can physically lift. If anyone asks you to lift more,
refuse, after explaining your restrictions.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF EMPLOYMENT:
(Including Work Assignment Supervisor & Name)
Report to, Training Chief at 633 N. Mojave Road.
DESCRIPTION OF SALARY & BENEFITS: N/A
EXPECTED DURATION:
Days
Days - ( ) 1 Wk - ( ) 2 Wks - ( ) 3 Wks - ( ) 1 Mo - ( ) >30
II understand that this Transitional Work Assignment is intended to be of short term nature, its
availability is subject to business necessity, and that I may be assigned to various locations within
the City, consistent with my restrictions and the best interests of the City. I further understand that
regular status checks on my ability to return to full duty work will be conducted.
SIGNATURE
DATE