Cummins Incorporated designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products. They provide good jobs to many people. As an employee of Cummins Incorporated, if you are hurt, could you afford medical care? If you are hurt and unable to work, could you afford to pay your rent and utilities? For many employees hurt during their shift, an injury would leave them financially devastated. Help for Hurt Employees Every state has a legal requirement that require employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation is provided to workers at no charge to them. If a worker is hurt and unable to work, they may be eligible to receive a portion of their lost wages. Filing a claim may help to cover medical expenses. Company Profile: Cummins Incorporated Cummins Incorporated is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana. They are a publicly traded company. There employ over 54,600 employees. They have over 233 locations, world-wide. Unique Risks Faced by Cummins Inc., Employees Heavy Machinery – operating heavy machinery, like the kind used while working on engines, can lead to cuts, broken bones, loss of limbs or even your fingers or toes. Line Operating – repetitive work due to fast moving assembly lines can cause injury to muscles, joints, neck, and back. Slip and Fall – slippery surfaces due to leaks and spills leaves workers at risk for pulled muscles, dislocated joints, slipped discs, and closed head injuries. Cuts – handling sharp objects can cause minor to severe injury. Hurt and Not Sure What to Do? Do not continue to work if you are hurt. You can cause minor injuries to get worse and even injure yourself further. If you are hurt, regardless of the cause, consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. Notify your manager if you are hurt during your shift. If you hurt your back, cut yourself, are severely injured by machinery, or hit your head, call 911. You are entitled to emergency medical care. A police officer will respond and write a police report. You can get the information you need to get a copy for your records of that report. Police reports are usually available a few days after it is filed. Speak to your manager or HR rep about how you can see a doctor at no cost. You can see your personal doctor. It is important that you know that you may have out of pocket costs like a copay or coinsurance payment. You may qualify to have your out of pocket expenses reimbursed by workers’ compensation. Make sure that you keep your receipts. If you cannot work, either temporarily or permanently, you may qualify to receive a portion of your pay through workers’ compensation. Carolyn Marcine Jenson V. Cummins, Incorporated In the case of Carolyn Marcine Jenson v. Cummins Incorporated, Ms. Jenson suffered a knee and back injury during her shift at Cummins. She was awarded workers’ compensation benefits. However, it was later determined that Jenson had controlled diabetes as a preexisting condition and that the diabetes had contributed to her injury. Her claim was reduced. It is important, as seen in this case, to consult an experienced workers’ compensation attorney about your workers’ compensation claim. This can help minimize the risk of preexisting conditions being used against you by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Cummins Incorporated, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
