Presume the Unexpected

Workers’ comp stakeholders have a difficult job in measuring claims, especially with COVID-19 exposures where the science and protocols are developing. I’m linking to a Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) study styled COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Presumption Coverage: Kentucky.

In Kentucky, the governor has promulgated Executive Order 2020-277 that states, “Kentuckians who, because of the nature of their employment, are at risk of being exposed to or contracting COVID-19 should be protected by workers’ compensation coverage.” This WCRI study uses U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics to estimate the number of covered Kentucky workers with occupations and settings where COVID-19 exposures are most likely.

According to WCRI, there are approximately 164,000 Kentucky employees who fall under Governor Beshear’s orders. After considering the specific job classification, this study applies an exposure risk percentage factor as follows: very high = 1; high = 0.8; medium = 0.5; low = 0.2. (An EMT might be classified as high, while a clerical hospital worker might be classified as low.) The summary chart is as follows:

Occupations Estimated Employment Covered by Presumption Estimated Exposure Base of Workers

Health care providers 115,314 54,053
First responders 19,510 10,151
Correctional officers 6,420 2,748
Grocery workers 22,740 8,811

Total: 163,984 75,763
Studies like these help us stay more informed in order to do better.

Call us. We can do better.

William Faris, JD
Chief Executive Officer
502-495-5040
william.faris@omca.biz
www.omca.biz

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