The State Workers Compensation Board of Georgia

The State Workers Compensation Board ofToday's workers' compensation law limits the
Georgia was established in the year 1920 andliability of the employer, and causes the employee
serves the community by being the referral forto be eligible to claim particular benefits for injuries
more than 3.8 million employees in the state ofreceived during work, with no regard to fault or
Georgia. This State Board receives its fundingnegligence. Using self insurance programs or going
through assessment from self insured employersthrough private insurers, employers in Georgia
and also from insurance companies. A range ofcover themselves with worker's compensation
benefits such as medical payments, compensationinsurance. The rights of an employee injured
of a part of lost wages and even for vocationalduring work are specific and legally prevent the
rehabilitation services, could possibly be available toemployer from any claims of the employee
legally covered employee who sustains an injuryoutside of these laws.
while at work.Any employer with a work force of a minimum
Before the act called 'Workers Compensation'of three workers, whether they are full or part
was passed, an employee injured during worktime, comes under this law. This includes non
could not claim any benefits from his employer. Aprofit organisations and public corporations.
labour force comprising of children, men, andFederal government workers, domestic servants,
women usually had no recourse to anyfarm labourers and farmers, and also railroad
compensation for work connected injuries, evenworkers have a specific exemption from workers'
though they had to work under oppressive andcompensation law. These are a few categories of
harsh conditions.employees who do not come under this law.
The stand taken by the court was often thatThe State Workers Compensation Board works in
employees were aware of the risk whenclose conjunction with a fund termed Subsequent
accepting the job, were careless, or hinderedInjury Trust. In cases when a worker has had a
from recovering owing to carelessness by aprior injury which was subsequently further
colleague. It was also not the most satisfying ofdamaged by an injury while working, this Fund
methods to try to obtain redress in court sincereimburses employers or insurers for a part of
that process was mostly long and costly. Whilethe compensation monies paid out.
this became an insurmountable obstacle for aAssessments from self insured employers and
worker in dire need of lost wages and medicalinsurance companies completely fund the
expenses, a successful court procedure could alsocompensation program for workers.
render a small company bankrupt.