65.2-201 - General duties and powers of the Commission.
§ 65.2-201. General duties and powers of the Commission.
A. It shall be the duty of the Commission to administer this title andadjudicate issues and controversies relating thereto. In all matters withinthe jurisdiction of the Commission, it shall have the power of a court ofrecord to administer oath, to compel the attendance of witnesses and theproduction of documents, to punish for contempt, to appoint guardianspursuant to Title 31, and to enforce compliance with its lawful orders andawards. The Commission shall make rules and regulations for carrying out theprovisions of this title.
B. The Commission may appoint deputies, bailiffs, and such other personnel asit may deem necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of thistitle.
C. The Commission or any member thereof or any person deputized by it may forthe purposes of this title subpoena witnesses, administer or cause to beadministered oaths, and examine or cause to be examined such parts of thebooks and records of the parties to a proceeding as relate to questions indispute arising in instances in which the Commission has power to awardcompensation. This authority shall extend to requests from like agencies ofother states who honor similar requests from the Commission.
D. The Commission shall publish and, upon request, furnish free of charge,such blank forms and literature as it shall deem requisite to facilitate orpromote the efficient administration of this title. The Commission shallpublish a workers' compensation guide for employees which informs an injuredemployee of his rights under this title. If the Commission receives notice ofan accident, it shall provide a workers' compensation guide to the employee.
E. The Commission shall tabulate the accident reports received from employersin accordance with § 65.2-900 and shall publish the same in the annual reportof the Commission and as often as it may deem advisable, in such detailed oraggregate form as it may deem best. The name of the employer or employeeshall not appear in such publications, and the employers' reports shall beprivate records of the Commission and shall not be open for public inspectionexcept for the inspection by the parties directly involved, and only to theextent of such interest. These reports shall not be used as evidence againstany employer in any suit at law brought by any employee for the recovery ofdamages.
(Code 1950, §§ 65-10, 65-14, 65-16, 65-19; 1952, c. 14; 1962, c. 339; 1968,c. 660, §§ 65.1-11, 65.1-18, 65.1-22; 1983, c. 102; 1991, c. 355; 2004, c.178.)