Someone told me the floor tile in my office is asbestos.
Should I be worried about exposure to asbestos?
Many of the University's buildings were built before the EPA banned
the use of asbestos in buildings. The Office of Risk Management has
information regarding identified locations of asbestos in most University
buildings. If we do not have information on-file regarding your office,
we can have the material sampled for asbestos content. If the material
in your office is asbestos containing, but it is in good condition
and it is not disturbed, it poses no immediate hazard to your health.
If the material is damaged, you should contact Risk Management for
an evaluation of your office. The University will handle any corrective
action in accordance with applicable federal and local regulations.
Is the paint in my office/room lead-based paint, and should
I be worried about exposure to lead?
Many of the University's buildings were built before lead-based
paint (LBP) was banned in 1978. The Office of Risk Management has
information regarding identified locations of LBP in most University
buildings. If we do not have information on-file regarding your office/room,
we can have the paint sampled for lead-content. If the paint in your
office/room is lead-based, but is in good condition and is not chipping,
flaking, or damaged, it poses no immediate hazard to your health.
If the paint is damaged, you should contact Risk Management for an
evaluation of your office/room. The University will handle any corrective
action in accordance with applicable federal and local regulations.
There is a sign that states asbestos/lead abatement will
be performed in my building tomorrow; should I come to work that day?
Yes. The University follows all applicable safety precautions
in accordance with applicable federal and local regulations to ensure
asbestos/lead is removed and handled properly. Unless your supervisor
is directed by the Office of Risk Management to relocate employees,
the abatement work will be isolated from the rest of the building.
How does Risk Management know I will not be exposed to
asbestos/lead in my office during the abatement?
During all abatement projects in occupied University buildings,
an environmental consulting firm is hired to perform industrial hygiene
air monitoring before, during, and after abatement activity. This
monitoring will ensure no employees are exposed to asbestos/lead in
accordance with regulations established by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration.
Facilities fixed a leaking pipe in my office last week.
Do I have a mold problem?
The University's Mold Management Program is designed to prevent
and eliminate potential indoor mold growth. Any water damaged building
materials should be cleaned and dried if possible, or removed from
the building. Just because there was a water leak, that doesn't mean
you have mold in your work area. If you believe you have mold in your
work area, or you see visual mold growth, the Office of Risk Management
will perform an investigation and determine what action is necessary.
I have several old computers that I need to dispose of,
what should I do?
The University has established an Ecycling Program to dispose
of old computers and certain electronic equipment (cell phones, copiers,
fax machines). The Ecycling
website will explain the process. In a nutshell, if GW owns the
equipment, it may have a fixed asset sticker on it. If so, you will
have to fill out a change in asset form to get rid of it. If there's
no sticker, then you can just call work control at 994-6706 and Transportation
will come pick it up from you in a few days. The Change In Fixed Assets
form can be found at: http://www.gwu.edu/~ecycling/change.in.fixed.asset.form.pdf.
I need to drive a 12 passenger van for a University sponsored
trip, what do I need to do in order to drive?
In order to become an approved driver in GWU's motor vehicle safety
program, you need to complete the following elements before driving:
Submit completed "Drivers Authorization Application" with a legible
copy of your current driver's license to the Office of Risk Management.
Complete the on-line van safety training program and obtain a
minimum passing score of at least an 80%.
If driving a vehicle with greater than a 10 seat capacity, the
"Passenger Van Safety Acknowledgment" form must be completed and
returned to Risk Management. Once the application is submitted,
the applicant will receive an email with a USER ID, PASSWORD, and
instructions on how to access the online training. The entire process
takes about one day from the time Risk Management receives the application.
It is the state mandated employer obilgation to provide medical
care and indemnity payments for employees who sustain injury or illness
that arises out of and occurs in the course of employment. Worker's
compensation is an injured employee's exclusive remedy against his/her
employer and fellow employees.
How does worker's compensation work?
When an employee is injured on the job it must be reported
to Risk Management. The first step in filing a worker's comp claim
is to notify the supervisor of the injury or illness immediately.
The supervisor in coordination with the injured employee is responsible
for completing an Accident
Reporting Form which documents the details of the injury/illness.
Forms must be completed and returned to ORM (Support Building, Suite
101, 2025 F Street) within 24 hours of the incident. When the form
is received by our office, it serves as a formal notice to the University
that an employee sustained an accidental injury or illness on the
job. Of course, every claim is investigated to determine whether the
injury arouse out of and in the course of employment.
What happens if I am injured and cannot work?
Any absence from work MUST BE authorized by the employee's
treating physician. An employee must be out of work three days (excluding
the day of injury) before workers' compensation pay for the time lost.
If an employee loses 1-3 days of work, no TEMPORARY DISABILITY PAYMENT
will be made. If the employee loses 4-14 days, temporary disability
will begin on day 4. However, if the employee is out of work for 14
consecutive days or more, workers' compensation disability payments
will begin with day one of the absence from work. The rate of payment
while on workers' compensation is 66 2/3 of your average weekly wages.
The payments are tax-free.
What happens if an employee does not lose time?
The claim is set up only to pay medical expenses related
to the injury of illness. The employee should inform the health care
provider to send the bills to the Office of Risk Management at 2025
F Street, N.W., Suite 101, Washington, DC. 20052. Payments will then
be made to the provider under the University' Workers' Compensation
Program.
Where can I get the forms to file a Worker's Compensation
claim?
All forms necessary for reporting a work related injury or
illnesses are included in the GWU Accident Reporting Kit which all
supervisors should have on hand. An accident reporting kit can also
be obtained through the Office of Risk Management by calling 202-994-3265
or from the ORM
website.
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Insurance FAQ's
GW residents applying for privileges at another hospital
may need the following information regarding malpractice coverage
at GWU:
The name of the insurance carrier, type of coverage, amount and coverage
date.
As of October 1, 2007:
The George Washington University entered into an agreement with the
Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) to have its employed physicians,
residents and interns covered under the MFA's Medical Professional
Liability insurance policy. This coverage is written by the MFA's
captive insurance company, MFA Physicians Insurance Company, Ltd.
domiciled in the Cayman Islands. The policy has limits of $3 million
per occurrence and $12 million in the annual aggregate. Coverage is
written on a claims made basis.
What insurance coverage is provided for international travel?
All University employees traveling internationally must register their
trip at the International SOS website. Please visit our International
Travel Website for further information.
The employee program coverage includes general liability insurance,
excess auto liability insurance, medical services, travel advice,
security and medical evacuation, and repatriation services. The student
program, which is provided by International SOS, includes coverage
for travel advice, security and medical evacuation, and repatriation
services.
You must register your travel plans in the International SOS Traveler
Locator in order to activate your Membership Profile.
