OWCP Clinic: Which Form to Use When You’re Hurt or Sick at Work 

Have you ever been confused about which form to fill out when you are injured or get sick at work?

You’re not alone, because USBP and CBP have always done a terrible job of ensuring that employees, supervisors, and managers receive enough OWCP training. And because of that inadequate training, the only one who suffers is the injured/sick employee.

So here are the basics — bookmark this page so you can refer to it later.

I got injured at work — which form do I fill out?

Form CA-1: Notice of Traumatic Injury

Use a CA-1 when you’re hurt by a single event or accident at work (e.g., slip and fall, vehicle accident, needle stick, sprain, etc.).

Form CA-2: Notice of Occupational Disease

Use a CA-2 when your condition develops over time from repeated work activities or exposures (e.g., carpal tunnel, hearing loss over the course of your career, chronic back pain, etc.).

Important: We frequently hear that supervisors tell employees to fill out a Form CA-2 for an illness like COVID, flu, or some other communicable disease or illness, usually because they see the word “disease” in “occupational disease.”

An occupational disease is any injury or illness that happens gradually over a long period of time due to the job.

Most of the time, a Form CA-2 is not going to be the appropriate form. However, when it is the correct form, the process is different than with a Form CA-1, so get with a union rep for more guidance.

Form CA-2a: Notice of Recurrence

Use a CA-2a if you had an injury or illness claim accepted by DOL, you recovered, and now the same problem has returned without a new accident.

For help with an OWCP case or general OWCP-related questions, contact Local 2366 Executive Vice President Bobby Duran by clicking here.