VSSR Claims | Safety Workplace Violations | Workers' Compensation
Getting hurt at work is not only painful but can also be incredibly frustrating. The combination of medical bills and the loss of income is often overwhelming. Then there’s the bureaucracy, trips to the doctor, and paperwork that goes with it.
When the accident is due to your employer’s carelessness or negligence, it feels all the more troubling. The Ohio worker’s compensation system has a safety net for these scenarios, known as Violations of Specific Safety Requirements, or VSSR claims.
Understanding VSSR Claims
Ohio requires employers in many types of businesses to follow certain rules in regard to worker safety. The benefits from a Violation of Specific Safety Requirements claim provide compensation to injured workers when their employer has failed to protect them under such requirements.
Distinction from Standard Claims
VSSR claims are distinguished from a typical workers’ compensation claim. This type of claim offers benefits separate from weekly income or other benefits an employee is entitled to.
It covers incidents in which the employer has neglected to follow any of a wide range of safety specifications, such as:
- Failure in providing specific safety gear
- Not replacing damaged equipment
- Failing to update fixtures
- And many others
Filing a VSSR Claim
If a violation occurred from an employer failing to comply with a specific safety requirement, a worker or a dependent of a worker may file for the Violation of Specific Safety Requirement (VSSR) benefit.
Important Deadlines and Proof
The claim must be filed before the deadline expires, within 2 years from the date of the incident. The burden of proof is on the injured employee in Ohio VSSR Claims.
Impact on Other Workers' Comp Benefits
Workers’ Compensation benefits are paid regardless of fault. VSSR claims are submitted to separately address the specific situation in which the employer is at fault, not affecting other workers’ comp benefits.
Receiving Concurrent Benefits
An employee can still continue to receive income and medical benefits, even if a VSSR claim is denied.
