NPR News Investigations

Dennis Whedbee, of Homer City, Pa., lost half of his left arm in a drilling accident in North Dakota in September 2012.

'I Lost A Hand And This Is Workman's Comp. ... I Didn't Lose A Hook!'

9:00pm April 26, 2015

by Howard Berkes

Dennis Whedbee's experience illustrates the trade-offs for injured workers as states and insurance carriers seek to trim workers' comp by gaining more control over treatment decisions.

Queue Listen Now

National

Federal Judge Says South Dakota Officials Violated Native American Families' Rights

10:33am April 14, 2015

by Laura Sullivan

Two of the state's largest tribes win class action lawsuit alleging that the state routinely put their children in foster care without due process

Queue Listen Now

Alabama Bill Would Increase Workers' Comp Benefits For Amputees

12:49pm April 07, 2015

by Michael Grabell

A proposal to nearly triple the maximum compensation for workers who lose a limb follows an investigation that showed Alabama to have the lowest permanent partial disability benefits in the country.

Frances Stevens uses a custom ramp leading to her van. An accident at work in 1997 left her unable to walk. She received full workers' compensation benefits until two years ago, when the insurer withdrew her medications and home health aide. Her lawsuit i

National

Employers And Insurers Gain Control In Workers' Compensation Disputes

12:41pm March 30, 2015

by Howard Berkes

In 10 states, injured workers are finding it more difficult to get or keep medical treatment their doctors prescribe because of reforms to workers' comp laws.

Queue Listen Now

Lupita Ramirez dresses her husband, Joel, at their home in Rialto, Calif. Joel was paralyzed from the waist down after being crushed by a pallet when he was working in a warehouse.

Injured Workers Suffer As 'Reforms' Limit Workers' Compensation Benefits

2:38pm March 23, 2015

by Howard Berkes

Over the past decade, states have slashed workers' compensation benefits, denying injured workers help when they need it most and shifting the costs of workplace accidents to taxpayers.

Queue Listen Now

Joel Ramirez climbs back into his wheelchair with the help of Francisco Guardado, a home health aide, at his home in Rialto, Calif. Ramirez was paralyzed from the waist down in 2009 when a 900-pound crate fell on him at a warehouse. Changes to California

National

'Grand Bargain' In Workers' Comp Unravels, Harming Injured Workers Further

2:38pm March 23, 2015

by Howard Berkes

Changes to workers' compensation laws mean families and government bear more of the costs that result from injuries on the job.

Queue Listen Now

Jeremy Lewis lost his left arm during a work-related incident while working at a poultry plant in Alabama. The state has the nation's lowest workers' compensation benefits for amputations and sent Lewis into just the kind of downward spiral workers' comp

Economy

As Workers' Comp Varies From State To State, Workers Pay The Price

2:37pm March 23, 2015

by Howard Berkes

Injured workers dependent on workers' compensation face eroding benefits. We go to Alabama and Georgia, where the value of an amputated arm can vary by $700,000, depending on which state you live in.

Queue Listen Now

Federal Regulators Link Workers' Comp Failures To Income Inequality

11:13am March 05, 2015

by Howard Berkes

Changes to workers' compensation laws mean families and government bear more of the costs that result from injuries on the job.

To safely lift Bernard Valencia out of his hospital bed, Cheri Moore uses a ceiling lift and sling. The VA hospital in Loma Linda, Calif., has safe patient handling technology installed throughout its entire facility.

Health & Safety

At VA Hospitals, Training And Technology Reduce Nurses' Injuries

8:46pm February 25, 2015

by Daniel Zwerdling

The Department of Veterans Affairs is taking a lead among other hospital systems in the country to keep nurses and other staff from getting injured when they move and lift patients.

Queue Listen Now

The X-ray of Tove Schuster's spine shows the metal cage and four screws her surgeon used to repair a damaged disk in her back.

Hospitals Fail To Protect Nursing Staff From Becoming Patients

5:09pm February 25, 2015

by Daniel Zwerdling

Nursing employees suffer 35,000 back and other injuries nearly every year. But many career-ending injuries could be prevented if hospitals brought in new technology and taught "safe patient handling."

Queue Listen Now