Per OSHA on Workplace Personal Injury: The System is Broken
Mark Clore ·
A recent report from OSHA dares to go where no one else who deals with workplace personal injury has gone before. The 16-page document blatantly refers to the workers' compensation system as "broken" and details how employees suffer long-term consequences beyond their physical wounds as a result. Taking a humanistic approach, OSHA points out that, "Statistics are people with the tears washed off," and calls for a dramatic shift in accountability. How Workers' Compensation is Supposed to Function In Charleston, personal injury from workplace incidents is overseen by the South Carolina's Workers' Compensation Commission. Most employers are required to purchase insurance designed to compensate employees who are hurt on the job. Employers are protected from litigation, and employees are entitled to medical care, as well as supplementary income while they're unable to work. The state agency helps resolve disputes between the employee and employer or the employer's representative, and also establishes guidelines involving compensation. It Sounds Simple, But Employment Misclassifications Help Employers Dodge Responsibility Sadly, many employers today are hiring people as contract employees, instead of direct employees. In these situations, employees who are hurt aren't entitled to the same benefits, even if they are acting as a traditional employee. Moreover, groups of employees or contract workers from different staffing firms are gathered together on the same worksite. Although this kind of staffing was once only common on construction sites, it has become more mainstream. Because of this, there is often no agency or employer who takes the lead in regard to ensuring a safe worksite, and more accidents occur. Employees and their Families Pay for Personal Injury Through their research, OSHA determined that the breakdown of how expenses are being paid is unfair.
- Employees pay 50% out-of-pocket
- Workers' compensation pays 21%
- Private health insurance pays 13%
- Federal government pays 11%
- State government pays 5%
Charleston Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Attorney
If you or a loved one has been hurt on the job, compensation may be available. Even if the employer did not have insurance, they may still be required to provide for care and other issues that result. Moreover, there may also be third parties involved who directly contributed to the incident, and they, too, can be compelled by law to provide reparations. If you need help navigating the "broken" system, please contact us for a free consultation. We can be reached online, or you can speak to an attorney right away by calling1(800)610-2546.Contact Us
Clore Law Group welcomes your questions about any issues concerning a serious personal injury, car accident, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, business tort, or workplace injury. If you have a viable claim, we’ll explain the legal process. Since consultations are always free, there’s no cost in learning your legal options.