What to do if you have a traumatic
injury
A traumatic injury is defined as a wound
or other condition of the body that is
caused by external force, including
stress or strain, identifiable in time
and place, and that is the result of an
incident, or a series of incidents, that
occur during a single workday.
You or someone on your behalf should:
• Promptly notify your supervisor.
• Receive and complete Form CA-1,
“Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim
for COP.” It should be filled out
completely and accurately and submitted
if possible within two days of the
injury.
• Select Continuation of Pay (COP)
unless there is some unusual reason to
cause you to use your own leave. COP is
defined as an employee’s regular pay. It
is paid by the USPS, will be the same as
your regular check, and it may be
continued up to 45 calendar days. COP is
paid only for traumatic injuries, not
for occupational illnesses or injuries.
If you have chosen COP on the Form CA-1
and you have provided the required
medical documentation within 10 days,
then the USPS cannot refuse to pay COP
unless one of the reasons for
termination of COP found in Section
545.51 of the Employee and Labor
Relations Manual (ELM) applies.
To be eligible for COP the Form CA-1
must be submitted within 30 days of your
traumatic injury. If COP is denied
because you did not file within 30 days,
you may still claim compensation for
wage loss from OWCP on Form CA-7, “Claim
for Compensation.”
You are responsible for providing to the
USPS within 10 working days after
claiming COP prima facie medical
evidence that states that you have been
totally disabled as a direct result of
your workplace injury. If this is not
done the USPS may stop your COP until
they receive the medical evidence (ELM
543.33)
• Receive Form CA-16, “Authorization for
Examination and Treatment,” and/or Form
CA-17, “Duty Status Report” as
appropriate.
An employee is entitled to the initial
selection of a physician for treatment
of an injury. USPS management may not
interfere with your right to choose a
treating physician. They may contact
your physician by telephone to determine
if the physician is able to see you, or
write to your physician in order to
obtain additional information about your
duty status or medical progress. (ELM
543).
• Insist that you be fully informed of
your FECA rights if you receive any
medical treatment including first aid.
If you need emergency treatment, a
supervisor may accompany you to the
doctor’s office or hospital in order to
make certain that you receive prompt
treatment (ELM 543.142)
If it is not a medical emergency, then
the USPS may require that you be
examined (not treated) by a USPS medical
provider prior to your obtaining medical
treatment examination must be performed
promptly and must in no way interfere
with your right to receive prompt
attention from the physician that you
have chosen (ELM 543.11)
Remember, if it is not an emergency, a
supervisor is not authorized to go with
you to a medical facility (ELM 543.223).
• Request Form CA-&, “Claim for
Compensation,” if your treating
physician believes that your disability
(either total or partial) is going to
continue beyond the 45 calendars days of
COP. Complete it and submit it to the
USPS at least 5 working days prior to
the end of your 45 days Of COP. Attached
to the Form CA-7 is a Form CA-20,
“Attending Physician Report,” which must
be completed fully and accurately by
your physician.
