FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2

FAR 52.228-3 Workers' Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act).

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This clause requires contractors to provide workers' compensation insurance or self-insure for employees covered by the Defense Base Act, which extends the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. It also mandates specific reporting and payment obligations to the Department of Labor for injuries or deaths, and requires flow-down of the clause to applicable subcontracts.

Applies to: Contractors performing work subject to the Defense Base Act

What it requires

  • Before starting work, establish provisions for disability, medical, and death benefits by purchasing insurance or qualifying as a self-insurer, and maintain them until performance is complete.
  • Within 10 days of an employee's injury or death, submit Form LS-202 to the Department of Labor.
  • Pay compensation for disability or death within the time frames of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
  • Provide medical care as required by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.

Key terms: Defense Base Act · Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act · workers' compensation insurance · self-insurer · Form LS-202

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

As prescribed in 28.309(a), insert the following clause:

Workers' Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act) (JUL 2014)

(a) The Contractor shall—

(1) Before commencing performance under this contract, establish provisions to provide for the payment of disability compensation and medical benefits to covered employees and death benefits to their eligible survivors, by purchasing workers' compensation insurance or qualifying as a self-insurer under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 932) as extended by the Defense Base Act (42 U.S.C. 1651, et seq.), and continue to maintain provisions to provide such Defense Base Act benefits until contract performance is completed;

(2) Within ten days of an employee's injury or death or from the date the Contractor has knowledge of the injury or death, submit Form LS-202 (Employee's First Report of Injury or Occupational Illness) to the Department of Labor in accordance with the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 930(a), 20 CFR 702.201 to 702.203);

(3) Pay all compensation due for disability or death within the time frames required by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 914, 20 CFR 702.231 and 703.232);

(4) Provide for medical care as required by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 907, 20 CFR 702.402 and 702.419);

(5) If controverting the right to compensation, submit Form LS-207 (Notice of Controversion of Right to Compensation) to the Department of Labor in accordance with the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 914(d), 20 CFR 702.251);

(6) Immediately upon making the first payment of compensation in any case, submit Form LS-206 (Payment Of Compensation Without Award) to the Department of Labor in accordance with the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 914(c), 20 CFR 702.234);

(7) When payments are suspended or when making the final payment, submit Form LS-208 (Notice of Final Payment or Suspension of Compensation Payments) to the Department of Labor in accordance with the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 914(c) and (g), 20 CFR 702.234 and 702.235); and

(8) Adhere to all other provisions of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act as extended by the Defense Base Act, and Department of Labor regulations at 20 CFR Parts 701 to 704.

(b) For additional information on the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act requirements see http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dlhwc/lsdba.htm.

(c) The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in all subcontracts to which the Defense Base Act applies.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

  • 28.309 Contract clauses for workers' compensation insurance.

Sections that refer to it

  • 28.309 Contract clauses for workers' compensation insurance.

← 52.228-2 Additional Bond Security. · 52.228-4 Workers' Compensation and War-Hazard Insurance Overseas. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 52

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 52.228-3 Workers' Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act) · SpendQuery