An Analysis of Occupational Disease Cases: Illinois Industrial Commission--1977

摘要

The objective of this report is to present an analysis of the files of the Illinois Industrial Commission on occupational disease compensation for 1977. This study looks at the barriers to disease compensation by examining the nature of the diseases for which claims were filed, the length of time involved in the cases, and the outcome of the claims. Data from the Illinois Industrial Commission were supplemented by interviews with union officials, claimants, arbitrators and attorneys. The study found that in only 3.3% of all the claims filed during 1977 did the case come to arbitration and result in an award to the claimant. Over 50% of the claims resulted in lump sum settlements that deprived the claimant of any future rights to medical or disability benefits. The great majority of claims (169) were for respiratory diseases. The next two largest classes were cases of contact dermatitis (66) and lead poisoning (65). There were only seven claims for job-related cancer filed, although a projection of occupationally-caused cancer deaths among males in Illinois for a single year puts the number somewhere between 2,310 and 4,620. The majority of the cases filed took over two years to come to a resolution and as of 1980, over 19% were still open.