Compensation Claims Under Workmen

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    COMPENSATION CLAIMS UNDER WORKMENS

    COMPENSATION ACT 1923

    AIM

    1. GREF officers and personnel (barring clerical staff ) are entitled todeath/injury benefit in accordance with the provisions of Workmens CompensationAct 1923 as amended from time to time, as per Para 196 of Border Roads

    Regulations. As per Para 514 of Border Roads Regulations, the said Act shall also

    apply to the casually paid labourers (CPLs) employed by the Projects. The aim of

    this module is to lay down detailed procedure for processing the claims of

    compensation of entitled GREF personnel and CPLs under the said Act.

    ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES

    2. Only a person who is covered by the definition of Workman, given in

    Section 2 (n) of the Act will be eligible for the benefits under this Act. Sub Section

    2 (n) (ii), lays down that a person who is employed in any such capacity as

    specified in Schedule II of the Act will be a Workman. In accordance with Para

    (viii) Sub Para (a) and (c) of schedule II, the persons employed in the construction,

    maintenance, repair or demolition of any building (of given specification) or any

    road, bridge, tunnel or canal are included in the definition of Workman. GREF

    personnel and CPLs employed on such duties thus fall within the definition of

    Workman,. With the removal of upper monthly emoluments limit, the GREF

    officers employed on such duties are also covered in the definition of Workman.

    Army officers/ men are not entitled to benefits under this Act. Clerical staff is also

    not covered in the definition of Workman.

    CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH COMPENSATION IS

    PAYABLE

    3. In accordance with Section 3 of the Act, a Workman will be entitled to

    compensation only when his death or permanent total disablement is caused throughan injury by an accident which has arisen out of and in the course of his

    employment. In case of permanent total disablement, a workman will not be

    eligible to compensation if his disablement is caused by an accident which is

    directly attributable to :-

    (a) The workman having been at the time of accident under the influence of

    drink or drugs or

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    (b) The wilful disobedience of the workman to an order expressly given, or

    to a rule expressly framed, for the purpose of securing the safety of

    workman, or

    (c) The wilful removal or disregard by the workman of any safety guard or

    other device he knew to have been provided for the purpose of securing

    the safety of workman.

    4. If a workman employed in any employment specified in Part A of schedule

    III of the Act, contracts any disease specified there in as an occupational

    desease peculiar to that employment, or if a workman, whilst in the service of

    an employer in whose service he has been employed for a continuous period of

    not less than six months (which period shall not include a period of service under

    any other employer in the same kind of employment) in any employment

    specified in Part B of schedule III, contracts any disease specified therein as an

    occupational disease peculiar to that employment, the contracting of the diseaseshall be deemed to be an injury by accident for the purpose specified in Para 3

    above.

    AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION

    5. In accordance with Section 4 of the Act, the amount of compensation payable

    will be as under :-

    (a) Where death results from an injury, an amount equal to fifty percent of the

    monthly wages of the deceased workman multiplied by the relevant factor

    given in Schedule IV of the Act or an amount of Eighty Thousand Rupees

    whichever is more.

    (b) Where permanent total disablement results from the injury an amount

    equal to sixty percent of the monthly wages of the injured workman

    multiplied by the above mentioned relevant factor or an amount of

    Rs.90000/- (Rs.Ninty Thousand only) whichever is more.

    6. It may be borne in mind that the age given in first column of Schedule IV is

    the completed years of age on the last birth day of the workman immediatelypreceding the date on which the compensation fell due. The same may be worked

    out accordingly.

    7. Where the monthly wages of a workman exceed Four thousand rupees, his

    monthly wages for the purpose of calculation of amount of compensation shall be

    deemed to be Four thousand rupees only.

    8. For computing the monthly-wages, charges on the following counts shall also

    be included:-

    (a) Bonus

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    (b) Accommodation

    (c) Ration

    (d) Clothing

    (e) Medical re-imbursement

    (f) Washing Allowance

    9. The above charges will be calculated based on the SSR rates as circulatedfrom time to time.

    METHOD OF CALCULATING WAGES

    10. Where a workman has worked for a continuous period of twelve months

    immediately preceding the accident, the monthly wages of the workman shall be

    one twelfth of the total wages earned during last twelve months.

    11. Where the whole of the continuous period of service of a workman is lessthan one month, the monthly wages of the workman shall be average monthly

    amount which during the twelve months immediately preceding the accident was

    being earned by a workman employed on the same work by the same employer or if

    there was no workman so employed, by a workman employed on similar work in

    the same locality.

    12. In other cases including cases in which it is not possible for want of necessary

    information to calculate the monthly wages under Para 11 above, the monthly

    wages shall be thirty times the total wages earned in respect of the last continuous

    period of service divided by the number of days comprising such period.

    PROCESSING OF COMPENSATION CLAIMS

    13. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

    As soon as a case of an accident involving a workman during his course of

    employment with GREF comes to notice of an OC unit, he shall take action as

    enumerated in succeeding paragraphs.

    14. WHERE THE WORKMAN (MEN) DIES IN AN ACCIDENT

    (a) Lodge a FIR with the police authorities within six hours of the accident

    and obtain copy of the same.

    (b) Obtain death certificate from the medical authority who declared the

    workman as dead.

    (c) Arrange post-mortem report on the body of workman in liaison with the

    police/medical authorities and obtain copy of the same by fastest means.

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    (d) Order a One Man Inquiry (OMI) within 24 hrs of the accident, to

    be held by a gazetted/commissioned officer. If more than one unit is

    involved, OMI will be ordered by Task Force Commander within 48 hrs

    of the accident. The One Man Inquiry will be held to establish eligibility

    of compensation to the concerned workman (men). The OMI will be

    completed within ten days of the accident and proceedings transmitted to

    the concerned T.F. After examination at the T.F. HQ orders of T.FCommander will be endorsed on the OMI. The sole aim of holding a OMI

    is to establish admissibility of compensation. Other issues like

    circumstances leading to the accident, MT discipline, regularisation of loss

    to the vehicle will not be combined. A separate Court of Inquiry to

    investigate such issues may be held as considered necessary.

    (e) Simultaneously the wages statement along with calculation sheet and

    contingent bill should be got verified from audit authorities.

    (f) Forward compensation claim within 20 days of the accident to the

    prescribed authority for sanction along with the following documents:-i. Manuscript copy of OMI.

    ii. Singed copy of convening order of OMI.

    iii. Orders of T.F Cdr on the OMI.

    iv. Original death certificate.

    v. Post-mortem report in original (if no original issued by Medical

    authority, copy duly attested by the medical authority)

    vi. Signed copy of FIR with FIR number registered with police.

    vii. Application for compensation under WCA 1923 on form X/Z as

    applicable.

    viii. Wages statement/pay drawn statement for last 12 monthsimmediately preceding the accident.

    ix. Calculation sheet.

    x. Contingent bill.

    xi. No demand certificate.

    xii. Statement of case.

    xiii. Delay report.

    xiv. DO Part II notifying the death casualty.

    xv. In case of CPL, photo copy of Recruitment-cum-Medical form

    and certificate from OC unit regarding correctness of date ofbirth.

    xvi. Job/Head No. against which amount of compensation to be

    booked (to be shown on contingent bill).

    (g) In case of claims requiring sanction of DGBR/Govt. the following

    additional documents will be enclosed:

    i. Audit report of AO/ACDA(Project) in original indicating name

    of AO/ACDA who has signed on it.

    ii. Recommendation of Task Force Commander.

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    iii. Recommendation of Chief Engineer.

    iv. Index indicating serial-wise/systematic details of documents

    with proper numbering of pages.

    v. All the documents enclosed with the claim will be authenticated.

    15. WHERE THE WORKMAN IS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT

    In case of an accident not resulting in death, eligibility of compensation

    can be established only after permanent disability of the workman, if any, is

    assessed. In such cases also the OMI will be completed and orders of T.F Cdr given

    thereon. Thereafter, the required documents will also be prepared and kept ready

    for processing immediately after permanent disability of the workman is assessed.

    In such cases, compensation claim will be initiated within 10 days of assessment of

    permanent disability of the workman. Such cases will be supported with the

    following documents:-

    (a) Original medical documents including medical board.

    (b) Disability certificate duly countersigned by T.F SMO and Project

    CMO and concurred by DDG (Med).

    (c) All other documents mentioned under Para 14 (f) and (g) above except

    srl (iv) and (v).

    16. WHERE THE WORKMAN HAS SUFFERED FROM AN

    OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE.

    Where death/permanent disability is caused as a result of anoccupational disease, orders on the OMI will be given. Such cases will be

    processed duly supported with the following documents:-

    (a) Original Medical documents/case sheets.

    (b) Attributability certificate on form AFMSF-93 (Pt II) (to be initiated by

    AMA and concurred by SMO & Dy.CMO & DDG (Med))

    (c) All other documents mentioned under Para 14 (f) & (g) above except Srl.

    (vi) for death cases and except Srl (iv), (v) and (vi) for permanent

    disability cases.

    17. COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR SANCTION OF COMPENSATION

    The authorities competent to sanction compensation are laid down in

    Govt. of India, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, BRDB letter

    No.BRDB/01/134/BEA/2001 dated 19th November 2001 and are as under :-

    DGBR Rs.4,50,000/-

    Chief Engineers Rs.3,50,000/-

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    Cdr T.Fs/Commandants GREF

    Centre

    Rs.2,50,000/-

    Cases involving payment in excess of Rs.4,50,000/- should be

    submitted to Government for sanction.

    18. The compensation claims will be processed through audit channel and auditreports will be obtained by hand as far as possible.

    19. DISBURSEMENT OF COMPENSATION

    Sanction of the competent authority for compensation will be sent to the

    concerned unit through fastest means. On receipt of sanction, the unit will claim the

    amount and make disbursement within 10 days of the receipt of sanction. In death

    cases and in cases where payment is to be made to a woman, the compensation

    amount will be sent to the Commissioner of Compensation of the concerned districtfor further disbursement in terms of Sec 8 of the Act.

    20. In accordance with Rule 6 of the Workmens Compensation Rules 1924, the

    Commissioner is required to give a Receipt for compensations in Form B

    (Specimen enclosed at Annexure A) in respect of the compensation amount

    deposited with him. Likewise, after disbursing the compensation amount, the

    Commissioner is required to render Statement Of Disbursements in Form C

    (specimen enclosed at Annexure B). It will be ensured by the OC Unit remitting

    the amount of compensation that Receipt in Form B is obtained from the

    Commissioner immediately after making remittance to him. Likewise, StatementOf Disbursement as per Form C will be obtained by the OC Unit from the

    Commissioner immediately after the compensation amount is disbursed by him.

    Constant monitoring in this regard will be done.

    21. After obtaining the above mentioned forms, a copy each of the same will be

    sent by the OC Unit to the authority which sanctioned the compensation i.e.TF

    Commander, CE, DGBR and Govt. as the case may be.

    22. Sec 8 (3) of the Act provides that a receipt of Commissioner shall be asufficient discharge in receipt of any compensation deposited with him. However,

    in larger interests of the beneficiary, cases should not be treated as settled or closed

    based on the receipt from Commissioners. The words sufficient discharge should

    be understood to mean sufficient discharge of the liability of the department to pay

    compensation. It is our moral responsibility to ensure that the amount of

    compensation is received by the beneficiary as soon as possible after remittances to

    the Compensation Commissioner. Accordingly, the cases should be pursued till

    payment of compensation is actually received by the beneficiaries.

    The statement of disbursement as per Form C obtained by the Unit

    will invariably be verified by the AO Task Force/Project. These statements will be

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    watched through the medium of a register. The cases where the payment

    receipt/cash receipts is delayed more than three months, be referred to the Secretary

    of the Labour Department of the concerned State as per instructions issued vide HQ

    DGBR letter Nos.15066/Policy/DGBR/01/EIC A dated 29.11.96,

    15066/DGBR/Policy/EIC-A dated 14.10.99 and 15066/Policy/50/EIC-A dated

    16 .1.2002.

    23. HALF MONTHLY PAYMENTS

    When an injury is caused to a workman as a result of an accident

    occurring during his course of employment with GREF and the same results in

    temporary disablement a half monthly payment of the sum equivalent to twenty five

    percent of monthly wages of the workman, can be paid to him under the provisions

    of Sub Sections 2 of Sec 4 of the Act. The amount is recoverable from the amount

    of lump sum compensation payable.

    FUNERAL EXPENDITURE

    24. If the injury to the workman results in his death, the department shall,

    in addition to the compensation amount deposited with the Commissioner a sum of

    one thousand rupees for payment to the eldest surviving dependent of the workman

    towards the expenditure of the funeral of such workman or where the workman did

    not have a dependent or was not living with his dependent at the time of death, to

    the person who actually incurred such expenditure.

    Where funeral expenditure in respect of deceased GREF personnel is

    claimed under Para 166 of Border Roads Regulations, the same will not be claimed

    under the above provision.

    MONITORING SLIP

    25. A monitoring Slip will accompany the OMI proceedings till the

    compensation amount is finally disbursed to the concerned beneficiary. The slip

    will be signed by officers handling the case at various stages starting from the

    ordering of OMI till the compensation is disbursed.

    NON PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION CLAIM

    26. In case payment of compensation could not be remitted to the

    concerned beneficiary/N.O.K due to one or the other reason the amount of

    compensation so received back from the Commissioner be deposited in bank and

    TR for amount adjusted by AO Task Force/ (P).

    CONCLUSION

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    27. In terms of Section 4 A of the Act, compensation claims are

    required to be finalised and amount deposited with the Commissioner or made to

    the workman, as the case may be, within one month of their falling due. In case of

    default, the Commissioner can direct to pay simple interest at the rate of 12% per

    annum and in case of further default he can direct additional penalty upto 50% of

    the amount of arrears and interest. It is imperative that to avoid imposition of any

    penalty, all out efforts should be made to make payment of compensation withinstipulated period. Officers/Staff dealing with the case at Unit/T.F/Project level will

    be held responsible for delay in processing the case.

    Compensation paid in satisfaction of the Court order under

    WCA 1923 will not be treated as charged expenditure. Any court order on the

    subject should be treated as declaratory order.

    ANNEXURE A

    FORM B

    (Rule 6)

    RECEIPT FOR COMPENSATION(Deposit under Section 8(1) of the Workmens Compensation Act, 1923)

    Book No Receipt No Register No.

    Depositor

    Deceased or injured workman...

    Date of deposit .

    Sum deposited Rs.

    Dated The ..

    Commissioner

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    Commissioner10