If you are a steelworker and you have had an accident at work you may be entitled to compensation. A steel workers’ job involves working in hazardous situations and every year hundreds of steelworkers are injured while working in a steel mill. In many cases and when injured a steel worker can file an application for workers’ compensation. This is because the steel mill has taken out WC coverage to cover its steelworkers for sickness and injuries while on the job. If you are entitled to WC you should have your medical treatment paid for, a percentage of your weekly wage and rehabilitation costs if required. What to Do Before Filing for Workers’ Compensation When you are injured, you should let your employer, or supervisor, know in writing as soon as you can and keep a copy of your report. The quicker the WC claim is made the quicker you will be able to get the benefits. Don’t wait too long as your employer, and its WC insurer, are more likely to be skeptical regarding the validity of your claim. Of course you should make it a priority to seek medical attention as soon as you can and keep any receipts of medical treatment you have paid for as these will be paid as part of your worker’s compensation. Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Report Once you have filed your accident report with your supervisor or employer you will be sent the appropriate forms for you to fill out. You should include with your form any key documents directly related to your injury or sickness which could be any of the following: fellow steel workers’ written reports proving your injury took place while working as a steel worker; medical treatment receipts you have paid; photographs taken by you or fellow steelworkers and surveillance camera footage taking at the steel works site; the physician’s diagnosis and treatment. As soon as you have finished filling out the forms and included the relevant documents, your employer should file the documents with its worker’s comp. insurer. If your employer doesn’t respond to your demand for workers’ compensation, your next step is to contact your local workers’ comp office. It will assign an officer who will contact your employer and try to get a firm answer regarding your workers’ compensation claim. After You File Your Workers’ Compensation Report On receipt of your employer’s workers’ compensation claim, the insurer will typically conduct its investigation which includes evaluating any evidence that you and your employer have provided which proves that the injury or sickness was a result of your job as a steelworker. As soon as your claim has been approved you should start receiving your benefits. Often insurers deny WC claims because the evidence you provide fails to prove the injury or sickness was due to your job as a steelworker. If this happens to you it is possible to lodge an appeal with your local Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. A hearing will be arranged where a judge will hear the case and instruct the employer’s insurer to pay worker’s compensation if it finds it is a valid claim. Contact a Workers’ Comp. Lawyer Because workers’ comp. claims are never easy to win it is a good idea to seek help from an attorney who can help you get your claim on the right track. Additional Resources What to Know if You Were Hurt as a Welder Documenting a Workplace Accident
