Accident Procedures
Each location shall establish a procedure to follow in case of an accident. All accidents occurring on archdiocesan property or at an archdiocesan-sponsored event off the property must be reported immediately to the person in charge and to the Insurance Department at the archdiocese. If appropriate, 911 should be called.
Each location should identify persons who are trained in emergency first aid procedures and ensure that the persons can be contacted readily in case of an accident that results in an injury.
Responding to an Injury
If an accident occurs and a person is injured, determine if the person needs immediate medical attention. This will depend on how serious the injury is or it appears to be: Is it life threatening (very serious) or non-life threatening (less serious or minor)?
When the Injury is Life Threatening
Call 911. Also call the injured person's emergency contact. Do not move the person unless he or she is in immediate danger of further injury. Cover the person and arrange for someone to meet the paramedics and bring them to the injured person.
Note: If a serious injury, serious illness, hospitalization or death of an employee occurs in a place of employment or in connection with any employment, regardless of whether the accident occurs during business or non-business hours, California requires the employer to report immediately (within 8 hours) to the nearest District Office of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA); see Reporting Work-Connected Injuries. Notify the Insurance Department of the archdiocese immediately as well.
Each location should have persons who are trained in emergency first aid procedures.
When the Injury is Not Life Threatening
Administer minor first aid and then make the person comfortable.
If the injured person is an employee and needs medical attention, then arrange to transport the person to the location's assigned medical panel facilities. Contact the Insurance Department at the archdiocese for help and further instruction. See the Medical Care Location Sheets.
If the injured person is not an employee or student and needs medical attention, then provide help:
Ask if the paramedics should be called. If so, dial 911 and then give the phone (if practical), to the injured person to make the arrangements directly.
Ask if anyone else should be notified. If so, call that person on the injured person's behalf.
File an accident report with the archdiocese, as described in Reporting an Injury or Accident.
Note: Any injured person or a student/minor's parent/guardian has the right to refuse a medical examination and treatment. In this event, ask the person to sign the Refusal of Medical Examination and/or Treatment for Non-Employees and Non-Students. If the injured person refuses to sign the Refusal document, make a note on the form that it was offered to the person.
Reporting an Injury or Accident
The person in charge must report all injuries and accidents to the Insurance Department. Serious accidents should be reported immediately by phone, email, or other electronic communication. Follow up with written reports. See Work-Related Injury Reporting for injuries and accidents involving employees.
Notice requirements
The person in charge at the location must:
- Notify parents/guardians of any minors/students of injuries to their minors/students; locations should maintain a complete and current Emergency Card for each minor/student
- For non-employee accidents, complete the Incident/Accident Report (Non-Automobile) and send it to the Insurance Department
- For employee accidents, refer to Section 5.2.8
- Report all serious injuries immediately by phone, email, or other electronic communication to the Insurance Department, Office of the Legal Counsel, and Communications Department
- In addition, report all serious injuries involving schools immediately by phone, email, or other electronic communication to the Department of Catholic Schools at 213-637-7300
- In addition, report all non-employee serious injuries involving cemeteries or mortuaries to the Cemeteries and Mortuaries Department at 323-524-7691
- Notify appropriate governmental entities (e.g., the Department of Building and Safety, Department of Public Health)
- Relay all press inquiries to the Communications Department for a response.
Forms to CompleteWhen an employee is injured, the matter is handled through workers' compensation. See Section 5.2.8. Contact the Insurance Department at the archdiocese for assistance related to handling and reporting the injury.When a student in a school or religious education program or a participant in any youth activity sustains a minor injury, complete the Notice to Parent/Guardian of Injury to Minor. For serious injuries or accidents, complete the Incident/Accident Report (Non-Automobile), and for school students, complete the Myers-Stevens Student Insurance Claim Form as well. See Student Accident Insurance.When a volunteer is injured, the person in charge must complete the Incident/Accident Report (Non-Automobile) and submit it to the Insurance Department. Make a copy for record-keeping.When a third person (e.g., a visitor, parent/guardian, or bingo player) is injured, the person in charge must complete the Incident/Accident Report (Non-Automobile) and submit it to the Insurance Department. Make a copy for record-keeping.When a volunteer, student, or third person slips/trips and falls at the location, also complete the Slip/Trip & Fall Accident Evaluation Checklist.If the injury or accident involves a vehicle, the person in charge must complete the Accident Report - Auto and Truck and submit it to the Insurance Department. If the injury or accident involves an archdiocesan vehicle, the person in charge must also complete the DMV SR 1 and submit the forms to the Insurance Department. The Insurance Department will fill out the following sections of the DMV SR 1: vehicle owner [leave date of birth blank], insurance company name, policy number, policy period and policy holder name.
