title: Workers' compensation: a historical review and description of a legal and social insurance system.
abstract: The workers' compensation system is a no-fault legal and social insurance system established to address compensation issues that involve work-related injuries and illnesses. The system was developed in response to dissatisfaction with common law litigation on the parts of injured workers and employers. The history of the development of workers' compensation is reviewed, and a general description of the system is offered, including discussion of state law and insurance structures, benefits and costs, administrative boards/commissions, and the federal systems for workers' compensation and related programs. The recent history of the workers' compensation system is provided, the recommendations of the National Commission on State Workmen's Compensation Laws in 1972 are reviewed, and the problems and state-initiated changes in worker's compensation that occurred during the 1990s are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Health Services, University of Virginia, 337 15th Street SW, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. dk4h@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kiselica
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sibson
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green-McKenzie
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007351:Insurance, Liability / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*