Pennsylvania Work-Related Injuries | Office of Risk Management - University of Pittsburgh

Pitt Police Face 2026 Shift Under Heart And Lung Act

Effective January 1, 2026, police officers at the University of Pittsburgh may become eligible for wage loss and medical expense coverage under the PA Heart & Lung Act.

Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation serves as the foundational legal remedy covering medical expenses and wage loss for employees injured in the course and scope of their employment. Reporting procedures remain uniform across departments.

Immediate Reporting Mandates For Staff Injuries

When a University of Pittsburgh employee living and working in Pennsylvania believes an injury occurred during work duties, immediate action is required.

The line operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Ninety-Day Restrictions On Designated Medical Panels

Medical treatment protocols demand strict adherence following any workplace incident. For the initial ninety days, medical care must be secured through one of the designated Workers’ Compensation Provider Panels.

Emergencies provide a narrow exception. They permit initial treatment at the closest Emergency Department, but all subsequent medical care must return to an approved panel provider.

Direct Communication And Supervisor Obligations

Communication protocols dictate that staff returning to work with medical releases or restrictions must provide a physical copy directly to their supervisor.

Employees are required to maintain an ongoing dialogue with management regarding any shifts in medical status or work capability following subsequent appointments. Adhering strictly to the operational restrictions established by the panel provider remains mandatory for all recovering personnel.

Supervisors carry distinct administrative responsibilities under these updated procedures. If an injured employee becomes incapacitated, the supervising staff member must ensure that an official claim is phoned in to WorkPartners without delay.

Full statutory text and administrative expectations are codified under the University’s ER 19 Workers’ Compensation policy.