WORKERS COMP DENIALS FOR FIREFIGHTERS? No Surprise *
According to the Union in Fairfax County (VA) Firefighters claims related to COVID-19 are being denied. Since March, about 100 of Fairfax County’s Firefighters and Paramedics have tested positive for the coronavirus, which its union says is part of the exposure hazard* that comes with emergency calls involving residents who’ve been infected, then sleeping in fire stations with other crew members.
Yet, only 14 of those members have had Virginia-funded workers’ compensation benefits approved, forcing those who’ve had claims rejected to use their sick leave while recovering and to pay for some of their own medical expenses, the Fairfax firefighters’ union claims.
IMO, no one should be surprised, as disappointing as it is. More often than not, “DENIED” appears to be the response in so many workers comp claims-and not just Covid-19. C-19 is a big issue whereas the question of a Firefighter getting exposed* on duty…or off duty …continues to be raised. And as we have learned before, in areas with “presumption” – it just isn’t that simple. Presume nothing.
*IMPORTANT: If you haven’t yet downloaded this FREE Firefighter Exposure Tracking app, from i-PSDI, take a look: https://i-psdi.org/nfors-fire-exposure.html
MORE details below, but as always, now would be a great time to find out how your agency plans to respond to COVID-19 issues, policies, coverage etc…if you haven’t already.
HERE is the latest related to the Virginia Firefighters:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/fairfax-firefighters-coronavirus/2020/12/19/e281da78-407f-11eb-8db8-395dedaaa036_story.html
RELATED:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/04/03/claim-denied-quarantined-hfd-firefighter-denied-workers-comp/
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/07/27/reedy-creek-first-responders-testing-positive-for-covid-19-denied-workers-comp/
https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/04/29/states-weigh-workers-comp-for-frontline-workers-against-the-cost-1280687
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/08/25/union-firefighters-forced-prove-they-contracted-covid-job-get-benefits/
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.
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