Traumatic injury means a wound or other condition of the body caused by external force, including stress or strain, which is identifiable as to time and place of occurrence and member or function of the body affected.  The injury must be caused by a specific event or incident or series of events or incidents within a single work day or shift.

A specific event or incident must have caused the injury.  Picking up a heavy box which caused an injury to your lower back, is a specific event.

You should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What date and time did the specific event occur? Example: On Friday March 16, 2018 at approximately 10:15 AM.
2. What specific event occurred? Example:  While picking up a heavy box, I felt a sharp pain in my lower back area that continues to cause me severe pain.
3. Where did the incident occur? Example:  Storeroom A in building 420 located at 2112 NW. Main St. Atlanta, GA 30318.
4. What body functions were injured?  Example:  Lower back

The most misunderstood injury that falls under CA-1: A series of events or incidents, within a single work day or work shift.  This injury may occur when you pick up several heavy objects in a single work day.

Example: “I picked up about 25 heavy boxes during the work day, weighing about 40 lbs. each. I don’t know which object caused the injury to my lower back, but by the end of that work shift, the pain to my lower back had significantly increased.”

What happened? Example:  Picking up 25 heavy boxes.

When did it happen? Example:  During my normal work shift, between 9 AM and 3 PM on March 16, 2018.

What did you injure?  Example:  Lower back.

Remember if you've missed work, check COP on question 15. A.   This means the agency will have to pay your regular pay for the first 45 days after the injury, if loss of work occurs.