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HAVE A WORKPLACE ILLNESS OR INJURED ON THE JOB AND NEED HELP? |
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 The
Pennsylvania Federation of Injured Workers can help you understand your
rights under the Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Act. If you
need some information about Pennsylvania's Worker's Compensation System
or you need a little support to make it through tough times the P.F.I.W. is
here for you. We help injured workers because "An Injury to One is
an Injury to All"! |
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WHAT IS A WORKPLACE ILLNESS OR INJURY? |
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| If you are not sure what a
workplace illness or injury P.F.I.W. has compiled a list of
illnesses and injuries that fall under worker's
compensation. Many workers have illnesses and
injuries they got from the workplace and they don't know
it. Many cancers and nerve damage comes from the
workplace. If you need to know more... |
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| WORKER'S COMPENSATION MANDATE |
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| There is an opinion in law
that explains what the purpose of the workers compensation act is to be;
the only problem is finding a way to get the commonwealth to enforce it.
The following is part of a decision handed out by Judge Robert Simpson:
"The object of all interpretation and construction of statutes is to
ascertain and effectuate the intention of the General Assembly." 1 Pa.
C.S.A. §1921(a). The ultimate
goal of the workers' compensation program is to make an injured employee
whole. O'Brien v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board (City of
Philadelphia), 780 A.2d 829 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001). |
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KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT |
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| We have gathered information from the experience of injured workers to
put together several informational publications. These publications are
available to answer the questions injured workers have about workers
compensation. We are constantly expanding the publications section as we
hear from more injured workers about their experiences while on
Pennsylvania worker's compensation. |
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INFORMATIONAL PUBLICATIONS |
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| We are always looking to add to these publications so if you have
something that you think will be helpful to injured workers submit it to
us for consideration to add. |
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| MEDICAL TREATMENT |
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When injured on the job the injured worker must treat
with
a physician, the injured worker selects, from an
Employer's List of Defined Physicians Defined that is properly posted
at the job site. It is important to know that there is a reason
the employer has chosen that particular physician to be a company panel
physician. The physician has agreed to treat any work injury with
as little expense as possible. This may lead to the injury not
receiving aggressive treatment necessary for a complete recovery.
Note: There are exceptions to this part of Pennsylvania
Worker's Compensation Act 57. Some employers do not follow the
guidelines of the Employer's List of Physicians Defined, therefore
allowing the injured worker to choose the physician they want to be
treated by. In Pennsylvania, injured workers
must treat with a physician from an
Employer's List of Physicians Defined, for the first 90 days after the
injury. After the 90 days injured workers can get the physician
they choose. |
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If a physician treating you for a workplace injury or
illness wants to drug test you
FIND ANOTHER PHYSICIAN! |
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LEGAL REPRESENTATION |
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When it is time to get legal
help for your workers compensation claim know the right
questions to ask an attorney. It is important to select an
attorney that will go the distance in the legal battle to protect your
right to receive workers compensation when injured on the job.
Learn how to evaluate an attorney.
Take advantage of a free consolation before you decide on an attorney.
Note: It is very important to investigate the attorney that
will represent you because they will be working for your
financial security for the future and it is very hard to replace
an attorney once an agreement has been signed.
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| DO NOT HIRE A PART-TIME WORKER'S COMPENSATION
ATTORNEY! |
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| EMPLOYMENT FOR
INJURED WORKERS |
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| If an injured worker is able to return to work but not the job
done before the work injury there are certain rights guaranteed.
Workers injured on the job have the right to return back to
their pre-injury job or an equivalent job earning the same
income as they did prior to becoming injured/disabled. An
employer cannot fire an injured worker because of their
workplace injury disability. Injured workers have a right
to good life sustaining and family supporting employment after a
workplace injury/disease. |
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Americans with Disabilities Act |
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| Workers with a
disability caused by a workplace injury/disease deserve better
treatment when it comes to employment other than what the state
allows now. Employers should not just push an injured
worker to the side as if nothing happened but rather embrace the
opportunity to make someone's life better. Offering
employment that no one else wants and expecting an injured
worker to take it because the law demands it is just wrong.
The workers compensation mandate says "the ultimate goal of the
workers' compensation program is to make an injured employee
whole" and the includes quality employment
opportunity and training if necessary. |
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Website Inquiry:
webmaster@pfiw.org
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