Chapter 8: WHAT HAPPENS TO INJURED WORKERS?

In this chapter we turn to what happens to workers who are injured on the job. Although the number of reported injuries has declined, there are still a lot of people who get killed or are injured or made sick by their work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2023. See www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/osh.pdf.

Part I of this chapter introduces briefly you to the world of workers’ compensation – a complicated system that varies significantly from one state to another. Note that additional components of the assignment for this discussion are linked in the readings – please be sure to follow the links.

Part II addresses the rights of injured workers to return to work after an injury and to reasonable accommodation at work. For those students who have taken a course on disability law, some of this will be a review -- these readings focus specifically on the right to return to work after an injury.

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