Employee Handbook
VII. Health and Safety
Smoking
To protect the public health, comfort and environment, smoking is permitted only in designated open air spaces outside of buildings.
A Safe Workplace
Environmental Health and Safety supports the University's mission by assisting each member of the campus community in meeting their responsibility to ensure a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment. For information on safe work practices and program templates see the Environmental Health and Safety website at http://www.fgcu.edu/ehs/.
Florida Gulf Coast University recognizes the importance of a safe and healthful working environment for all University employees. The responsibility for creating this environment begins with the University president and also resides with every employee in our institution.
All employees are responsible for notifying their supervisor of potential workplace hazards, and for protecting themselves and others by following the safe work procedures identified by their supervisors. In turn, supervisors are responsible for identifying hazards associated with the tasks they assign, and for initiating actions to manage these hazards. And vice presidents, deans, and directors are responsible for ensuring that managers and supervisors in their respective areas have the resources needed to complete their tasks safely. It truly is a collective effort on the part of all employees.
Workers' Compensation
You are covered by Workers' Compensation as required by Florida law. Workers' Compensation covers all "on-the-job" injuries, regardless of how minor.
Whenever an accident occurs, you should get first aid immediately. If emergency medical treatment is required, contact University Police and Safety at 590-1911. Following the arrangement of emergency medical treatment, it is necessary for you to report the injury to OptaComp at 1-877-518-2583.
If the injury does not require emergency medical treatment, call OptaComp prior to obtaining medical treatment. OptaComp will assist in selecting an appropriate and approved medical provider and completing the First Report of Injury form.
Additional information is located in the Workers’ Compensation information located at http://www.fgcu.edu/HR/workcomp2.html.
Accidents should be reported to your immediate supervisor and to Human Resources, as quickly as possible.
In addition to medical expenses, Workers' Compensation insures that if you sustain a job-related disability you will be carried in full pay status for the first seven calendar days of disability. You will be paid for the first five workdays as administrative leave. Thereafter, the Division of Risk Management will compensate you according to a percentage of your weekly salary. You may elect to make up the difference by using sick or annual leave accruals. The combined amount cannot exceed your regular salary.
Alternate Duty Work
If you are approved for alternate duty work, medical certification from your doctor must be given to Human Resources. Human Resources will contact your immediate supervisor and try to arrange alternate duty responsibilities in the same position or elsewhere within your department.
If alternate duty work is not available, you will remain at home until released by your doctor to return to work on full duty.
If the condition is permanent and you cannot perform all of the duties specified in the job description, your assignment may be modified to accommodate your disability. This will only be done if you are able to perform the essential duties of the position. The university will provide reasonable accommodations to you based upon your disability.
