All proceedings before any workers' compensation judge, except those for which an informal conference has been applied for as provided by section 402.1, shall be instituted by claim petition or other petition as the case may be or on the department's own motion, and all appeals to the board, shall be instituted by appeal addressed to the board. All claim petitions, requests for informal conferences and other petitions and appeals shall be in writing and in the form prescribed by the department.
77 P.S. § 711