Workers Compensation Terms and Definitions

Commutation An order by a Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge for a lump sum payment of part or all of your permanent disability award. Payment can be made to either the injured worker or the injured worker's attorney. Claims Administrator This is the term for insurance companies and others who handle your workers' compensation claim. Application for Adjudication of Claim (Application or App) Filing this form establishes a case before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). A WCAB case number will be assigned. Summary Rating Reconsideration An administrative procedure to object to the Summary Permanent Disability Rating issued by the DWC Disability Evaluation Unit. The request must be made within 30 days of receipt of the summary rating. State Disability Insurance (SDI): A branch of the Employment Development Department that pays temporary disability benefits for non-industrial injuries or illnesses. Stipulation with Request for Award (Stip): A settlement where the parties agree on the terms of an award. It may include any future medical treatment. Payment takes place over time. Claim Form A form to report a work injury or illness to your employer. Consultative Rating A rating of permanent disability provided by the DWC Disability Evaluation Unit when a claim is litigated or if the injured worker has an attorney. See Permanent Disability Rating. Light Duty Temporary change in job assignment to accommodate work restrictions while you are healing. May or may not pay at the same rate as your normal work assignment. Lost wages may be partially made up by Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) payments. Apportionment A way of figuring out how much of your permanent disability is due to your industrial injury and how much is due to other disabilities.

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	Did You Know?
	OSHA has developed final "Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence OSHA has developed final "Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers" and draft guidelines for night retail establishments. The intent of the guidelines is to educate employers on finding ways to provide a more secure work environment. Consequently, OSHA hopes that employers will voluntarily implement workplace violence protection programs. Workplace violence has emerged as an important safety issue in today's workplaces. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) fatality data, assaults and violent acts caused 20 percent of the fatal occupational injuries in the United States in 1994.