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Return to Work (RTW) Process

  1. Immediately report all injuries or illnesses to your supervisor and obtain necessary first aid and/or health care.  If needed, the employer can provide transportation to the nearest medical centre.
  2. Obtain the accident reporting package from your supervisor prior to leaving the workplace.  At the medical center, request the health care provider to complete the occupational health assessment form and identify your functional capabilities.
    • Note:  the accident reporting package has important information for you and your doctor and that is why it is necessary to have the package in hand, prior to leaving the workplace to seek medical treatment.
  3. Complete and return all the necessary paperwork for your injury the same day or next day and forwarded to the Safety Officer same day or next day (as quickly as possible) for reporting purposes.  
  4. Return the fully completed Occupational Health Assessment Form to your immediate supervisor the same day or next day, but no later, after the meeting with your health care provider. 
  5. When receiving medical treatment for any compensable work related injury or illness, tell the healthcare provider the treatment is due to an “on the job injury.” 
  6. You are expected to follow your physician’s treatment plan; attend all scheduled follow-up visits or physical therapy appointments; and provide work status reports from your physician to WCB and your supervisor.
  7. When possible, any medical appointments should be scheduled before or after your shift times so that your absence from work will be minimized.
  8. To facilitate the healing process, you are required to adhere to your medical restrictions at home as well as at work.
  9. Cooperate fully with the WCB adjudicator that may be assigned to your claim.  
  10. Keeping a positive attitude during your recovery is essential to the healing process.
  11. Upon receipt of your OHAF, you may be required to meet with your supervisor and the Safety Officer to determine your RTW plan.  You will be required to assist Pembina Trails to identify suitable work consistent with the OHAF and you and your supervisor will be required to communicate regularly on your RTW plan and recovery of your injury.  
    • Note:   please see the information below regarding how to identify suitable work and what is suitable work.
  12. If you are having difficulty with your return to work duties you must report any difficulties to your direct supervisor.  If the supervisor is unable to resolve the dispute issue the Safety Officer may be involved.    
  13. Participation in the Return-to-Work (RTW) program at Pembina Trails is mandatory for all employees, regardless of the circumstances responsible for your absence.   This is a requirement regardless of if the injury occurred at work or elsewhere/
  14. If your health care provider has determined that you can return to work, the Division will provide light duty/modified/or alternate work for occupational injuries based on their operational needs.  
    • Note: Light duty work is a temporary measure to help the transition back to a full day work status.  Generally, light duty is limited to six weeks duration.
  15. During your return to work you may be assigned work duties on a shift other than your scheduled shift due to divisional operational needs. This is a temporary situation and you will be returned to your regular work assignment once you have fully recovered.
  16. Keep your Supervisor and WCB case manager informed on a weekly basis of your progress.
  17. Immediately advise your supervisor and WCB case manager when you have been released back to work for full or light duty.   
  18. Upon a return to work, if an employee has less than 10 days of sick leave or is medically required to re-enter the work force on a gradual return to work, the employee must be placed on a one week lag. Timesheets must be submitted to payroll every Friday until the employee has accrued the necessary 10 days of sick leave and/or has returned to their full time equivalency.
  19. Once an employee has returned to work full time andhas 10 days of accrued sick leave, payroll will advise the employee by email and bring all hours up to date and will be paid


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