Start with the form
The employer must provide or mail a DWC-1 within one working day after learning of the injury or illness. The employee section asks for the event, time, place, and affected body part.
Return and retain
Complete and return the form promptly. Keep a copy and a record of delivery or receipt. A supervisor report is not the same record as the DWC-1.
Read the response
Keep claims-administrator notices, medical authorization decisions, and payment explanations in the same chronology so each next step has a source document.
File practice: save the notice, date served, and document that explains the next step. A reference page cannot decide an individual claim.