Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andrew Dalgarno on July 31, 2009 at 8:57am

I am in Canada (Manitoba) so this may be different than in the US...

We are paid on-call. Since we are paid, we are employees. Since we are employees, the Municipality has to have coverage under The Worker's Compensation Board.

I'm not sure how it would apply to a strictly volunteer organization though. I would hope that the local governing body has some type of coverage, otherwise they may be opening themselves up to a liability situation.

Andrew

Permalink Reply by Oldman on July 31, 2009 at 9:06am

"Give" insurance, or make it available?

VFIS has offered this for many years. We are covered from the time the call is dispatched until 30 minutes after the apparatus goes back into service. It may not pay your actual wages but does give you some to pay expenses. As for medical cost, it (at least in Texas) has never failed to pay all medical expenses for hospitalization and treatment (minus the deductible), and there is a maximum cap.

There are different deductible amounts and many other options available which would depend on what each department needs. My department has coverage on the stations, apparatus, personal property, and general liability.

VFIS also has a good loss prevention program which can show departments how to minimize claims through educational training programs such as EVOC, POV response, and Sexual Harassment, to name a few.

Permalink Reply by Mike Holden on July 31, 2009 at 10:44am

I have not heard of any such legislation here in Alabama.
Our department carries both workers comp and a disability policy on all of our members in case of an injury. This coverage includes responding to calls, training, on while working on any department business.

Permalink Reply by Holly on August 3, 2009 at 3:06pm

In our township we are covered by the townships insurance from the time we are toned out for a call til we return to the station. We are for that period of time considered township employees and would recieve workmans comp.