Sometimes we really don’t stop to give thought to what would happen should a law we have become accustomed to suddenly disappear. An excellent example of lthis would be the Arizona Worker’s Compensation law. If you stop to consider the effect the absence of these benefits would have, it will become very obvious how truly valuable this law is. Let’s face facts, accidents can happen to anyone. Some job-related mishaps are minor, requiring very little, if any, time off work to recuperate. However, some are just the opposite. Accidents can be devastating, require months of lost wages, tens of thousands of dollars in Medical expenses, and may prove to cause permanent disability.
Arizona’s Worker’s Compensation Law requires RMS, Risk Management Service, to become involved in the incident. This service maintains a log which is submitted to OSHA. In addition, RMS not only investigates the reported accident, but works with the injured employee’s department in order to prevent like accidents from happening again. Procedures used in the department are reviewed and safety hazards are identified.
In the state of Arizona, the Industrial Commission of Arizona is responsible for the administration of Worker’s Compensation. This program is mandatory, requiring all employers to participate. Unlike some states, Arizona does not exempt employers who have just a few employees. Employers may use several sources to obtain coverage. They can go through private carriers, self-insurance or employer group funds. The state also operates a fund offering employers coverage at very competitive rates.
Arizona uses three factors in determining the benefits paid to the injured worker. The type of accident, the severity and the worker’s wages before the accident all contribute to calculating the amount of benefits paid. When an injured worker has healed to the point where additional treatment will not make any further improvement, he or she is evaluated to access any physical or mental impairment which may exist. Should there be no impairment present, compensation may not be made. If the worker is unable to return to work and earn the same level of wages as before the accident, the compensation is calculated using the worker’s current ability to earn an income. When determining payment of benefits, the terms scheduled and unscheduled injury are used. Scheduled injuries are those which occur to specific body parts, unscheduled are general in nature. Benefits are paid only to workers who suffer scheduled injuries.