Workers' Compensation

Growing up as a son to an owner of a construction company has made me very aware of the many dangers that are involved with working in construction. Seeing how my father handled these issues from a manager's perspective has added to my knowledge and interest in why construction workers should receive Workers Compensation Insurance also known as Workmans Comp. I have worked in Construction every summer since I was old enough to hold a hammer. Although I am not going to school to learn more about construction, I have the experience and will always know how to do the things that I've learned throughout the years. I'm a Communication major and since the field is so broad I feel that any skills I have obtained through Communication classes I can use towards any job I would ever work in. I know that one day I will take over my father's business and I will be able to apply the skills I have learned from both my own experience and my fathers. By that time I hope to learn how to more effectively communicate to my workers and keep them and their families secure by offering them Workmans Compensation.

There are many issues that I would like to explore within Workmans Comp. such as; Why it is important for workers to receive Workmans Comp., What it is and how it works, and who is capable of receiving Workmans Comp. I feel these issues are very important because they cover the three main components in Risk Communication; environment, health, and safety.

These is an interesting topic because it is serious and could potentially save a family from hardship. Workmans Compensation can help a family receive income when the main supporter (worker) gets hurt and is unable to work for an extended period of time. "Not all workers compensation insurance providers handle injured worker claims in a timely and compassionate manner" (www.workerscompensationinsurance.com). If more workers were knowledgeable about this it would help current employees, future employees, and managers and other types of authorities for current and upcoming companies understand why receiving Workmans Compensation is so important.

I have seen people get hurt on the job and its a very emotional experience for everybody. The injured employee, the boss, and other workers doing similar work who could get injured the same way. Fortunately they were registered for Workers Compensation Insurance. I also worked for another guy who had me fill out the information for Workmans Compensation but did not have me sign it. His reasoning was because it would save both of us money in earnings and less taxes taken out. If I were to get injured I would sign and date saying it was my first day on the job. This is not a very safe idea however because what if I was injured so bad that I was unable to sign anything?

Other people besides the workers that should be interested in Workmans Compensation are current companies who do not have it, future companies in several different fields of construction which I will go into more detail on.

The stakeholders are the managers of these companies, the owners, and any other people who are responsible for the health and safety of the environment the workers are working in. Members of the public like officials who give permits allowing the work to be done and saying that the work conditions are safe, as well as neighbors, friends, and companies that a company may work with or for.

The stakes and concerns are most importantly the health and safety of the workers as well as the environment and the financial security for the families that these workers come home to. We should care about these concerns because at one point or another we will be part of the environment the workers are working in. Whether they are doing work on our own house a neighbors, friends, or family members an electrical fire could happen anywhere. Accidents happen and in this imperfect world you are never safe from danger. Take the miners in Utah for example.

I believe that with more effective risk communication more people will be aware of these dangers and families will be more secure. The managers of these companies should be the most informed so that they can encourage their workers to take action which will ultimately reduce the chance of a crisis.

www.workerscompensationlawfirms.com/facts.cfm
www.lenardcohen.com/workers-compensation.php