April 28 marks Workers’ Memorial Day, a holiday dedicated to honoring fallen and injured workers in the United States and beyond.
We’re participating in Workers’ Memorial Day because we’ve seen over and over again the devastating effects that work injuries and fatalities can have on workers and their families. The protections that we currently have for injured workers did not come easily. It’s critical that we all stay in the fight for occupational safety and fair compensation for those who are hurt on the job.
Workers’ Memorial Day recognizes the history of workplace safety
In the United States, the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest and most prominent union, declared April 28 to be Workers’ Memorial Day in 1989. April 28 has also been recognized by unions throughout the world, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Over the years, Workers’ Memorial Day and other workplace safety observances on April 28 have been used as a platform to campaign for public awareness of workplace safety issues, such as asbestos, as well as awareness of safety protocols within the workplace itself. This year, for example, the ILO is hosting a special event focused on how AI and digitalization are reshaping occupational safety and health.
Awareness of workplace safety is critical, because the scope of the problem is vast. Every year, millions of work injuries cost hundreds of billions of dollars in damages, including wage and productivity losses and medical expenses. Last year alone, there were more than 5,000 workers killed on the job across the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers need to do their part to put safety ahead of profits and protect workers from devastating injuries.
If you’ve been injured on the job, we can help you navigate the system
In Ohio, all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover their employees’ on-the-job injuries. Workers’ comp pays for your reasonable and necessary medical expenses to care for work injuries, as well as partial replacement of your lost wages if you are unable to work, and additional benefits for certain types of permanent injuries. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning it doesn’t matter who caused your injury, as long as you were at work when it happened.
However, the workers’ compensation system is quite complicated. Dealing with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is not easy. There are strict deadlines that need to be followed and numerous legal and administrative requirements to be met. To get full and fair compensation for your work injury, you need someone on your side who knows the system.
The attorneys at Hochman & Plunkett Co., L.P.A. have been fighting for injured Ohio workers for decades, and we have a proven track record of results in workers’ compensation cases.
If you’ve been hurt on the job, give us a call or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation to see how an experienced Ohio workers' compensation lawyer can help you find your way forward.
"After a work injury, I quickly realized how difficult it was to navigate through the Bureau of Workmans comp system on my own. I reached out to Hochman & Plunkett. They helped me to get my claim approved, as well as guide me through the entire process from getting the care I needed to getting compensation for my lost wages and disability. Everyone has been professional, prompt, and available to answer all of my questions. I am very happy with my choice to have Hochman & Plunkett represent me! I don't know what I would have done without them." - Apryl H., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐