DOL/ESA-44

SYSTEM NAME:

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FEC) and Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Rehabilitation Counselor Case Assignment, Contract Management and Performance Files and FEC Field Nurses.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Files concerning rehabilitation counselors are located in the Federal Employees' Compensation (FEC) and Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation (Longshore) District Offices where the counselor is certified. Files for FEC field nurses are found in FEC district offices. See the Appendix to this document for District Office addresses. Copies of claim forms and other documents arising out of a job-related injury that resulted in the filing of a claim under the FECA may also be maintained by the employing agency (and where the forms were transmitted to the OWCP electronically, the original forms are maintained by the agency).

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

The rehabilitation counselor/nurse files cover individuals who have entered into a contract with the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to provide rehabilitation counselor or nursing services under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and/or the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA).

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Names, addresses and information on qualifications of rehabilitation counselors/nurses certified by and under contract with OWCP to provide rehabilitation services to injured workers under the FECA and LHWCA or field nurse services under FECA. In addition there are records compiled and maintained by the rehabilitation specialist or the OWCP staff nurse, concerning the assignment of rehabilitation/field nurse cases to the counselor/nurse and the performance of the counselor/nurse in fulfilling the duties under the contract with OWCP.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

5 U.S.C. § 301.

PURPOSE(S):

These records are maintained to provide information about the rehabilitation counselor or field nurse, including the name, address, telephone number, counselor/nurse status, skill codes, number of referrals, status of referrals and notes. These notes can include evaluation of performance and other matters concerning performance of the contract.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

None, except for those universal routine uses listed in the General Prefatory Statement to this document.

Note: Disclosure of information contained in the file to the claimant, a person who is duly authorized to act on his/her behalf, or to others to whom disclosure is authorized by these routine uses, may be made over the telephone. Disclosure over the telephone will only be done where the requestor provides appropriate identifying information. Telephonic disclosure of information is essential to permit efficient administration and adjudication of claims.

Note: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(1), information from this system of records may be disclosed to members and staff of the Benefits Review Board, the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board, the Office of Administrative Law Judges, the Office of the Solicitor and other components of the Department who have a need for the record in the performance of their duties.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

None.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

The records are maintained in electronic form within the OWCP rehabilitation data system, or staff nurse monitoring system and in hard copy records maintained in the OWCP district office.

Records are principally stored by district office in electronic form, accessed by appropriate codes. Hard copy records may be maintained in the district office in locked cabinets.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Files and automated data are retrieved by the name of the counselor/nurse through the database and/or files maintained in the appropriate OWCP district office.

SAFEGUARDS:

Files and automated data are maintained under supervision of OWCP personnel during normal working hours--only authorized personnel may handle or disclose any information contained therein. Only personnel having appropriate authorization, including security codes, may access the electronic files and only the rehabilitation specialists or staff nurses who monitor contract performance and actions in individual claims, as well as the appropriate supervisors and managers in the district office and the national office, may access the files.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

All case files and automated data pertaining to the OWCP rehabilitation counselors/nurses are maintained for two years following the termination of the contract.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

Director, Division of Planning, Policy and Standards, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

An individual wishing to inquire whether this system of records contains information about him or her may write or telephone the appropriate OWCP District Office for the geographic region for which that individual contracted to provide services. In order for a record to be located, the individual must provide his or her full name and date of birth.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE:

Individuals wishing to request access to records should contact the appropriate office listed in the Notification Procedure section, or the system manager. Individuals must furnish their name, the claim number and signature.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

Individuals wishing to request amendment of any records should contact the appropriate office listed in the Notification Procedure section, or the system manager.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Rehabilitation Counselors, Field Nurses, Other Individuals, correspondence, investigative reports, Federal and state agency records, any other record or document pertaining to a contract.

SYSTEM EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:

None.