|
LIGHT DUTY PROTOCOLS
Existing
Light Duty Assignments
The
Installation Head or designee should identify all employees
currently in Light Duty assignments in the office. If the employee's
medical statement is not current the employee must provide a medical
statement from a licensed physician or a written statement from a
licensed chiropractor. This documentation should include, when
possible, the anticipated duration of the convalescence period.
Employees agree to submit to a further examination by a physician
designated by the Installation Head, if that official so requests.
This
documentation, along with the date of initiation of the Light Duty
assignment, is to be forwarded to the Occupational Health Office for
tracking and filing in the Employee's Medical File. Failure to
submit updated medical information may result in denial of the
continued Light Duty assignment.
The Occupational
Health Office personnel should review all new medical documentation
and benchmark the information against established occupational
medicine standards. The Installation Head or designee, after working
with the Occupational Health Office and ensuring compliance with
Article 13 of the National Agreement and any Local Memoranda of
Understanding, should initiate the appropriate action regarding the
current assignment. The determination of approval or denial of Light
Duty must be provided in writing to the employee. The expiration
date of the Light Duty assignment should be incorporated in this
document with instructions to the employee about the requirement to
provide updated medical information to support continuation of Light
Duty prior to the expiration date.
All
employees in current Light Duty assignments should be entered into
the District Light Duty tracking system. The supervisor,
Installation Head or designee must provide the Occupational Health
Office with the required information as indicated in the tracking
sheet (Employee Name, Employee ID, Installation Name, Position
Title, and Work Location/Tour). This tracking system should include
the date of initiation of the Light Duty assignment, the expiration
date, and the responsible supervisor's name and phone number.
New
Requests for Temporary Light Duty Assignments
Every
request for temporary Light Duty must be submitted in writing to the
employee's Installation Head and must be accompanied by a medical
statement from a licensed physician or a written statement from a
licensed chiropractor with the anticipated duration, when possible,
of the Light Duty assignment.
The Installation
Head or designee must determine the availability of temporary Light
Duty work within the office in accordance with Article 13 and Local
Memoranda of Understanding requirements and provide a written
response to the employee, either approving or denying the request.
If approved, the response should outline the work assignment and
duration of approved Light Duty. Denial letters should outline the
reason for denial. Both letters must be signed by the Installation
Head. The Supervisor is responsible for tracking the expiration date
of each employee's Light Duty assignment and for notifying each
employee of the expiration date.
All medical
documentation along with the approval or denial letters is to be
forwarded to the Occupational Health Office for tracking and
placement in the Employee's Medical Folder (per Management
Instruction EL-860-98-2). The Occupational Health Office will assist
the supervisor, Installation Head or designee by reviewing the
medical documentation to benchmark the request against established
occupational medicine principles. If medical restrictions or
duration of the request are questioned, the Occupational Medical
personnel should submit questions to be addressed by the employee's
treating provider and the employee should be informed that a
determination about the request cannot be provided until such
questions are answered. The occupational medical personnel may
contact the employee's treating provider for clarification only
after obtaining a written release from the employee. Light Duty
assignments should be terminated if the employee fails to provide
acceptable updated medical documentation.
The
Occupational Health Office will establish a tracking process for all
Light Duty assignments in the District, which includes both approved
and denied requests. The supervisor, Installation Head or designee
must provide the Occupational Health Office with the required
information as indicated in the tracking sheet (Employee Name,
Employee ID, Installation Name, Position Title, and Work
Location/Tour). Approved requests should include the initial
assignment date, expiration date, and responsible supervisor,
Installation Head or designee with phone number. The tracking file
report should be submitted to the Installation Head or designee at
the end of each pay period.
When the Light
Duty assignment expires the employee must return to regular duty or
submit new medical documentation supporting the need for
continuation of Temporary Light Duty. The employee's Light Duty
assignment should be terminated if the employee fails to provide
requested medical documentation. All requirements of written
response by the Installation Head and review by occupational medical
personnel continue to apply when continuation of Temporary Light
Duty is requested.
|
