Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)

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Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC)

Training for Injury Compensation Specialists, Managers/Supervisors

November 14, 2007

MEMORANDUM FOR: FEDERAL AGENCIES IN REGION X

The Seattle Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) provides three different types of training assistance to Federal agencies.

Two and a Half Day Workshops for Injury Compensation specialists and Other Agency Personnel Who Provide Direct Assistance to Injured Workers.

This workshop provides an in-depth study of the statute, regulation, conditions of coverage, and benefits provided by the Federal Employees Compensation Act, as well as the “processing” of injury claims by the employing agency. It is designed for staffers who do the paper work involved with claims processing who deal directly with OWCP.

There is no tuition for the workshop, and all materials are furnished. However, the employing establishments are responsible for travel expenses and per diem costs for their participants.

Please email Barbara McDonald at McDonald.Barbara@dol.gov to register for a class. The schedule of classes is:

Advanced ICS Workshop

The class will focus on strategies in reducing your compensation costs. Topics will include the Federal Employees Safety Health Return-to-employment Presidential Initiative, the importance of maintaining contact with the injured employee, OWCP nurse services, job offers, and importance of early referral for vocational rehabilitation services. We will discuss our administrative process with respect to the various topics.

In addition, the office will let you view our imaging process from beginning to end. You will be able to view documents as seen by the claims examiner.

The classes will be held in Seattle May 13 to May 14, 2008 .

We ask that anyone who enrolls in this class have completed the basic two and a half day Injury Compensation Specialist workshop and have experience with the program. The class assumes you have a basic understanding of the program.

Because of limited class size, pre-registration is required. To register, please send the following information to me at e-mail address McDonald.Barbara@dol.gov with the name of each participant, e-mail address, postal address, and phone number for each person. We will confirm enrollment upon receipt of the e-mail and the instructor will mail specific information to the attendees 2 to 3 weeks prior to the class. For more information, please use the above e-mail address.

Management and Supervisory Seminars

Our management staff can meet with groups, large or small, of senior managers to develop strategies for cost containment, rehabilitation, job modification, and general effective management of the FECA program.

We also provide a half-day for administrative personnel and first line supervisors that include an overview of the FECA program, responsibilities of the injured worker and the supervisors.

Unless we will be in the area, the travel expenses of OWCP instructors should be provided by the requesting agency.

All e-mail regarding any agency training should use the following Subject Line to facilitate tracking: 2008 Agency Training.