How long does a Georgia employer have to report a workplace injury?

A Georgia employer must file Form WC-1, the state's official injury report form, with both its workers compensation carrier and the State Board of Workers' Compensation within 21 days of learning about an injury that causes more than seven days of lost work time. The 21-day clock starts when the employer learns of the injury, not necessarily the day the injury happened, and the filing requirement sits under O.C.G.A. Title 34, Chapter 9.

The seven-day threshold is what separates a reportable injury from a minor one. An employee who twists an ankle and misses two days of work before returning does not trigger the Form WC-1 filing requirement on its own. An employee who breaks a wrist and cannot return for ten days does, once that seventh day of lost time is reached.

Wage benefits for the injured employee begin on the eighth day of disability, the day after that seven-day threshold is crossed. A concrete example: a warehouse employee is hurt on a Monday and is unable to work starting that day. If the employee is still out on the following Monday, that marks day eight, and wage replacement benefits begin from that point forward under the claim.

Missing the 21-day filing window creates exposure for the employer beyond the injured worker's claim itself, since the Form WC-1 filing is a state requirement tracked by the Board described in who regulates workers compensation in Georgia. The filing obligation only applies to businesses that are required to carry coverage in the first place, a threshold explained in is workers compensation required for a 3-employee business in Georgia.

Employers can confirm their carrier's claims reporting process and timelines through a coverage review. Full plan details, including what a policy pays for after a reported injury, are on the workers compensation insurance page.