COVID-19 Worker’s Compensation claims are covered at a 96% rate for frontline workers as a result of the COVID-19 Frontline Worker Presumption law.

Minnpost.com revealed that according to the Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Roslyn Robertson reported that 96% of infected workers covered by the presumption law had their claims accepted.

The COVID-19 Frontline Worker Presumption law has helped to ensured that front line workers, particularly first responders, who were infected with COVID-19 in the workplace has been successful.

Certain workers are presumed to have contracted COVID-19 on the job due to the conditions and nature of the job.

Schmidt & Salita Law Team’s Mary Beth Boyce and Dean Salita were an integral part of the team that negotiated the language of the deal that passed.

At Schmidt & Salita Law Team we are proud to work on behalf of injured worker’s not just in the Courtroom but at a grassroots and legislative level. We also continue to represent individuals who have occupational exposure that results in COVID, cancer and other unfortunate illnesses.

In 2018, the National Firefighter Cancer Registry Act was passed. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or “NIOSH” is working with the CDC to establish a National Firefighter Registry to track the health of firefighters. This occupational data will help to investigate the risks factors for firefighters that develop cancer and improve the monitoring of cancer among firefighters. The goal is to enroll 200,000 firefighters nationally. This data will eventually be available to the public.

In a previous NIOSH study that tracked firefighters between 2010 and 2015, showed that involved firefighters had higher rates of digestive, oral, respiratory and urinary than the general population. This study also showed that firefighters had almost twice as many cases of malignant mesothelioma, cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Firefighters under the age of 65 who developed bladder and prostate cancer were more than expected.

We hope tracking this data and eventual studies will assist in early detection and mitigation of cancers for firefighters. Research from the CDC and NIOSH is also vital to presenting our clients’ cases in court. The statistics and evidentiary evidence is here. Work comp insurers need to start paying for firefighter's’ work-related cancer treatment.