Workers' comp history

A fire at the Triangle Factory in New York City on March 25, 1911, is recognized as a key date in the history of the workers' comp system. Nearly 150 workers died amidst unsafe working conditions.

Less than two months later, Wisconsin Gov. Francis E. McGovern signed the first workers' compensation law. By 1948, every state in the country had enacted a workers' comp system.

The idea was radical for its time. It was the first form of social insurance in the U.S. and provided pre-defined medical and wage loss benefits to injured workers regardless of the cause.

Costs, ex-mods, Medicare among the topics of breakout sessions (11/01/12)
Opioids, physician dispensing continue to concern practitioners (02/25/13)
Opt-out proponents seek to expand support through education (09/10/12)
Veteran stakeholders add their expertise to comp advisory board (01/30/12)
Creativity and determination lead to better outcomes for MEMIC (03/04/13)

In exchange, injured workers could not sue their employers, even when clear negligence caused the injury.

May 9, 2011

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