Problem
Hans, 42, is a bus driver in a large city in your region. He has worked in this job for 18 years and he has gained a reputation for calmness, reliability and good relationships with the passengers. Many of his friends also work for the transit system and he is involved in a number of work-based recreational activities.
In the past year he has been involved in two violent situations. In the first situation a gang of teenagers got on the bus and attacked a group of other teenagers. Other passengers became involved. Hans ended up with broken collarbone. He was away for several months during which time he participated in three sessions with a counsellor. Hans did not seem to experience any long-term anxiety following that experience and the he and other colleagues made jokes about the incident afterwards. Two months after returning to work, in the second incident, a mentally ill man started shooting at the passengers. Hans tackled him and ended up with a bullet in the shoulder. Hans is now off work and receiving counselling. He has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress. He has been prescribed clorazepate (Tranxene). When you discussed returning to work with him he seemed wary. He reports that he is not sleeping well, is irritable, and has not been getting along with his wife and children.
A. Is Hans eligible for workers' compensation and what documentation would the insurance board need to have on hand in order to make a decision?
B. In this situation what kind of interaction would there be between the employer and RTWC, the workers' compensation organization the employee and about what issues?
C. What amount of financial compensation for lost wages can this worker expect to receive from the workers' compensation authority?
D. What other costs is the workers' compensation organization in your region likely to cover?
E. Would there be any components of a return-to-work plan that the insurance board would not cover or that the employer likely prefer to cover?