In most states and in most occupations workers who are injured while in the course of their duties at work are entitled to workers’ compensation. This is an amount provided by the employer’s insurer that covers the cost of medical treatment and lost wages while the employee is recovering from his or her injuries. No occupation escapes injuries to its workers as typically there are hazards that often lay in the path of employees. Sometimes they are there because of negligence of the employer in keeping the workplace safe while other times it may be due to lapses in concentration by the employee and he or she trips, slips and falls over a hazard that with more care could have been avoided. The Directors Guild of America (DGA) fully supports its members to submit a claim for compensation when they encounter an accident in the workplace. The Directors Guild of America The Directors Guild of America as an entertainment guild protects the interests of TV and film directors in the U.S. and abroad in the motion picture industry. It was founded in 1936 as the Screen Directors Guild and the group in 1960 merged with the Radio and Television Directors Guild. It was then named the Directors Guild of America. In 2017, it consisted of at least 16,000 members and its headquarters can be found in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard. It has smaller establishments based in Chicago and New York Chicago and has coordinating committees in Chicago, San Francisco and London. The DGA is considered to be a craft union, as it concentrates on one industry only. It represents directors, assistant directors, stage managers, unit production managers, production associates, associate directors and location managers. The media covered includes TV, film, news, documentaries, sports and commercials. Workplace Injuries Suffered by DGA Members In the entertainment industry all sorts of accidents and serious injuries can take place. All the staff members find themselves in the same place when it comes to the location of a movie set. Often these places are new to the directors of films and their staff and hazards may exist such as dangerous ground surfaces, unexpected extreme weather events and poorly erected accommodation and facilities’ structures to house the staff. The sorts of injuries, from tripping over unexpected hazards and slipping on surfaces that are uneven, could include: spinal injuries from falling over backwards. head and traumatic brain injuries when falling in a forward motion. falling from a height off a constructed platform could cause broken bones and internal injuries. What to Do If You Have Been Hurt On the Job Wherever the accident, the same procedure has to be followed to ensure you fully qualify for workers’ comp. To begin with you should seek medical treatment for your injuries. If you are able you should fill in an accident report form and hand it into your immediate supervisor. If your injuries don’t allow this get a work colleague or a member of your family to do this on your behalf. At the earliest opportunity you should list potential witnesses to the accident and the injuries you received. This is an important way of proving the injuries took place at work as this is the condition for being eligible for workers’ comp. the next thing to do is contact a workers’ comp. attorney. Why Contact an Attorney Employers’ insurers often try to short change employees who have suffered serious injuries at work. You will need the professional assistance of an attorney to help you get the workers’ comp. you deserve. It’s crucial you get a fair assessment of the cost of medical treatment and you are compensated for any loss of earnings while recovering. *Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation in California Writers Guild of America West and Workers’ Compensation*
