Wisconsin Workplace Injury Rates and Workers' Compensation

Mill Fire in Green Bay

Recently, firefighters spent hours trying to extinguish a fire in the Proctor & Gamble mill in Green Bay. The fire, caused by a paper machine, occurred during the middle of a workday. The fire extended into a paper dryer and the roof above the machine. The fire was finally put out around 1:30 p.m. An additional fire was reported in the dust collection tubes, which extended the operation until later into the afternoon.

Wisconsin Workplace Injury Rates

Nationally, more than three million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private employers in 2013. Nearly three million of these nonfatal incidents were caused by occupational injuries and illnesses.

Workplace injuries are a common problem in Wisconsin. Wisconsin's nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate was found to be four times greater than the national rate. However, Wisconsin's fatal occupational injuries only totaled 114, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than one-third of these fatalities were caused by work-related transportation injuries. The remaining deaths were caused by the violence of others and contact with objects or equipment. In fact, the manufacturing industry had the second highest fatality count with 16.

Wisconsin Workers' Compensation

In Wisconsin, a workplace injury can leave an employee with life threatening injuries, permanent disability, and an unexpected break in wages. The Wisconsin Workers' Compensation Act is the foundation of our workers' compensation system. Employees who work for an employer (private or public) that has three or more workers are protected by the Act. Physical injuries, mental injuries, accidental injuries, and occupational diseases caused by workplace accidents or diseases are covered under workers' compensation.

Additionally, injured employees are entitled to have all medical, surgical, and hospital treatment bills paid by an employer. These include doctor bills, hospital bills, medicine, medical or surgical supplies, and traveling expenses. Injured employees are also supposed to be compensated for lost time and wages. If you lost a loved one to a fatal workplace injury, you may also be entitled to benefits.

The workers' compensation system is a great boon for injured workers, but it is a complicated process. Injured employees have to inform their employer of their injury within a given time frame. There is also a maximum amount of time in which employers have to provide workers' compensation benefits in certain cases.

Employers may attempt to limit the amount of benefits they pay out to injured workers. Therefore, it is important to keep a written record of injuries and all treatments received in case a claim goes to a hearing. A hearing is possible when an employee or an employer do not agree with a workers' compensation claim or benefits being paid.

Contact a Wisconsin Workplace Injury Attorney

If you suffered a workplace injury, please contact one of our Green Bay workplace injury attorneys or Appleton workplace injury attorneys at [[title]] today. With offices located in Appleton, Green Bay, and Oshkosh, we are prepared to help you recover compensation for your injuries.