Flavors of Workplace Injuries
Workplace injury benefits come in many “flavors.” Most California workers are covered by workers compensation, administered by the state. However, federal law provides workplace injury benefits to others.
A narrow definition, subject to many refinements, of these groups includes:
- Jones Act- maritime workers
- Longshore Act- dockworkers
- Defense Base Act – civilian employees working abroad on a U.S. military base or under contract with the U.S. government for public works or national defense
- Federal Employers Liability Act- railroad workers
There are important differences among these laws, including what triggers compensation and available benefits. All workplace injury claims, however, can be resolved through mediation.