Heart disease is a concern for many in our society, in Colorado and elsewhere. In fact, it is the number one cause of death in our nation. When a worker in our state suffers such an illness, the results can be lost wages and time away from work. The workers’ compensation insurance program was intended to assist some of those ill workers that became ill on the job.
According to a recent report that may be of interest to workers in Colorado, there are some 37,000 disability claims that were looked at in the study for workers who suffer from acute coronary syndrome. These claims can cost employers up to $52,473 in lost work production, the reports say. The syndrome occurs when the blood supplied to the heart is suddenly blocked.
For the average mild cardiac event such as those injured workers who have acute coronary syndrome, employees lost approximately 60 days of work. These workers lost wages due to the fact that they were only paid for about 35 days of their lost work time. For those with more serious events, the average lost time at work was 397 days.
Workers who suffer an injury or illness can be subject to lost wages and financial stress. When such an incident happens on the job, the worker may wish to seek some compensation using benefits such as disability and workers’ compensation claims. For those Coloradans who qualify, the funds can be the difference between making ends meet and a financial struggle. Many workers who are injured or suffer an illness on the job are confused about their legal rights, and they may take comfort in knowing that there is help available to ensure they receive all of the benefits to which they may be entitled under our laws.
Source: Bloomberg, “Heart Attack, Chest Pain Costly for Employers, Study Says,” Nicole Ostrow, Nov. 5, 2012