In Alabama, worker's compensation issues are handled through the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Worker's Compensation Division. The division has a twofold responsibility. First, Worker's Compensation Division holds the responsibility to administer the Alabama Workers' Compensat6ion Law. The proper payment of recompense to those employees who are injured while performing job duties or to their families if they are killed in the performance of job duties. This responsibility expands to include provision of needed attention by medical personnel when the employees have job related injuries.
The second major responsibility of the Worker's Compensation Division is that of ensuring the highest possible level of safety in the workplace. This latter tasks includes inspections of workplaces to check compliance with published safety standards and promoting safety information and activities,
The Worker's Compensation Division also provides services and information to governmental agencies, labor groups, management groups, legislators, judges and attorneys, insurance companies, employers and those who claim benefits.
The State of Alabama operates the government entity for worker's compensation but also holds the responsibility of overseeing and administering rules and regulations when individuals or groups elect to provide self insurance as protection for themselves and their employees.
Compliance officers are stationed in various areas throughout the state with the responsibility of visiting work sites to check that obvious dangers to employees are corrected or eliminated. These Division employees have the right and responsibility to point out dangers and lack of compliance and to force compliance through fines and or legal action against the employers. In extreme cases, a work site can be shut down if the danger is known and the employer refuses to correct the problem.
However, in most instances, the employer is as anxious as the compliance officer to correct potential workplace safety issues. Employees occasionally will point out situations where corrections need to be made in order to promote a safe working environment, but this is less likely to happen unless reporting can be done in such a way to avoid perceived reprisals against the employee.
As in most states, the most dangerous Alabama job categories are those that require the highest premiums by employers, since the risk potential is most costly. Most employers elect to purchase workers compensation through an approved carrier who actually writes the insurance policy. Other alternatives are the Assigned Risk Pool, group self insurance, individual self insurance or by an approved alternative policy
Alabama's Workers Compensation Reform Act was passed by the 1992 legislature. The Act provided two main components that have stabilized the cost of worker's compensation rates. First, the amount that could be assessed by medical providers for services has been capped, thus limiting the costs for providing medical and rehabilitative services for injured employees. Second, the legal expenses related to disputed worker's compensation claims have been reduced by the creation of an ombudsman mediation department within the agency. Many disputes are settled at the ombudsman level through mediation thus eliminating costly legal fees.
A less visible part of the over all Worker's Compensation Division program is the educational features. Personnel from the Division are available to conduct safety training on site, or in central settings. Posters, films and other media presentations help to keep employees safety conscious. Personnel are available to speak at various public functions in order to heighten public awareness not only of work safety issues, but of home and individual safety as well.
Finally, as part of its cost containment efforts, the Worker's Compensation Division actively participates in negotiations with providers such as hospitals, physicians, therapists and rehabilitative personnel.
Over all, the goal of providing compensation upon injury or death while reducing costs to the employers and the public through negotiation and cost containment efforts results in a higher focus on safety maintenance activities.
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