SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.40 número1The right to rehabilitation: From policy development to implementationExploring the tensions of sustaining economic empowerment of persons with disabilities through open labour market employment in the Cape Metropole índice de autoresíndice de materiabúsqueda de artículos
Home Pagelista alfabética de revistas  

Servicios Personalizados

Articulo

Indicadores

Links relacionados

  • En proceso de indezaciónCitado por Google
  • En proceso de indezaciónSimilares en Google

Compartir


South African Journal of Occupational Therapy

versión On-line ISSN 2310-3833
versión impresa ISSN 0038-2337

S. Afr. j. occup. ther. vol.40 no.1 Pretoria mar. 2010

 

 

 

Human rights and workman's compensation: The experiences of two injured workers

 

 

Susan LandmanI; Helen BuchananII

IMSc; Clinical Educator, Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town
IIMSc; Senior Lecturer, Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town

Correspondence

 

 


ABSTRACT

This article will highlight examples where human rights were abused and promoted through the description of the experiences of injured workers of the Compensation Process in South Africa. A collective case study design was used and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The article reports on the findings of a with-in case analysis of two participants. Three themes associated with human rights emerged. These relate to dealing with the consequences of losing a job and not being able to care for self and family, feeling isolated in the compensation process and not being acknowledged. Recommendations are made in relation to practice and education.

Key words: Human rights, workman's compensation, injured workers, collective case study


 

 

“Full text available only in PDF format”

 

 

References

1. Republic of South Africa. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997. <http://www.labour.gov.za>         [ Links ].

2. Republic of South Africa. Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998. <http://www.labour.gov.za>         [ Links ].

3. Republic of South Africa. No. 130 of 1993: Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act as amended by Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amended Act, No 61 of 1997. <http://www.labour.gov.za>         [ Links ].

4. Stone SD. Workers without work: Injured Workers and Well-being. Journal of Occupational Science, 2003; 10(1): 7 - 13.         [ Links ]

5. Keogh JP, Nuwayhid I, Gordon JL and Gucer P. The Impact of Occupational Injury on Injured Worker and Family: Outcomes of Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders in Maryland Workers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2000; 38: 498-506.         [ Links ]

6. Cacciocarro L and Kirsh B. Exploring the mental health needs of injured workers. The Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2000; 73(3): 178 - 187.         [ Links ]

7. Boden LI and Galizzi M. Economic consequences of workplace injuries and illnesses: Lost earnings and benefit adequacy. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1999; 36(5): 487 - 503.         [ Links ]

8. Pransky G, Benjamin K, Hill - Fotouhi MA, Himmelstein J, Fletcher KE, Katz JN and Johnson WG. Outcomes in work-related upper extremity and low back injuries: Results of a retrospective study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2000; 37(4): 400 - 409.         [ Links ]

9. Booysen F le R. "Adding Insult to Injury": Poverty and Injury in South Africa. Paper presented at DPRU Conference, 2002 October 22 -24; Johannesburg.         [ Links ]

10. Department of Labour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Policy, Revised Edition 3. 2003. <http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/occhealth/policy2.pdf> (20 January 2010).         [ Links ]

11. Buys TL and Van Biljon H. Occupational therapy in occupational health and safety: Dealing with disability in the work place. Occupational Health South Africa, 1998; 4(5): 30-33.         [ Links ]

12. Westmorland M, Williams R, Strong S and Arnold E. Perspectives on work (re)entry for persons with disabilities: Implications for clinicians. WORK, 2002; 18: 29 - 40.         [ Links ]

13. Friedland J. Knowing from whence we came: Reflecting on return-to-work and interpersonal relationships. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2001; 68(5): 266 - 271.         [ Links ]

14. Creswell J. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Second Edition. London: Sage Publications, 2003.         [ Links ]

15. McMillan J and Schumacher S. Research in Education: A Conceptual Introduction. Fifth edition. New York: Longman, 2001.         [ Links ]

16. Field PA and Morse J. Nursing Research: The Application of Qualitative Approaches. London: Chapman and Hall, 1996.         [ Links ]

17. Friesen MN, Yassi A and Cooper J. Return-to-work: The importance of human interactions and organizational structures. WORK, 2001; 17: 11 - 22.         [ Links ]

18. Sager L and James C. Injured worker's perspectives of their rehabilitation process under the New South Wales Workers Compensation System. Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2005; 52: 127 - 135.         [ Links ]

19. Republic of South Africa. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. 1996. <http://www.polity.org.za> (10 February 2007).         [ Links ]

20. Adams S, Morar R, Kolbe-Alexander T and Jeebhay MF. Health and Health Care in the Workplace. 2007. <http://www.hst.org.za/uploads/files/chap7_07.pdf> (1 February 2008).         [ Links ]

21. Roberts-Yates C. The concerns and issues of injured workers in relation to claims/injury management and rehabilitation: the need for new operational frameworks. Disability and Rehabilitation, 2003; 25(16): 898 - 907.         [ Links ]

22. Fultz E and Pieris B. Compensation for employment injuries in Southern Africa: An overview of schemes and proposals for reform. International Labour Review, 1999; 138(2): 171-193.         [ Links ]

23. Bezuidenhout M. Managing for healthy labour relations. A practical guide for health services in southern Africa. 2nd Ed. Van Schaick: Pretoria, 2007.         [ Links ]

24. Health Professionals Council of South Africa. National Patients' Rights Charter. Booklet 13. 2002. <http://www.hpcsa.co.za> (1 February 2008).         [ Links ]

25. Strunin L and Boden L. The Worker's Compensation System: Worker friend or foe? American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2004; 45: 338-345.         [ Links ]

26. Parrish M and Schofield T. Injured workers' experiences of the workers' compensation claims process: instituted disrespect and the neoliberal state. Health Sociology Review, 2005; 33: 1-17.         [ Links ]

27. Lippel K. Workers describe the effect of the workers' compensation process on their health: A Québec study. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 2007; 30: 427 - 443.         [ Links ]

28. Department of Public Service and Administration. Batho Pele: Together beating the drum for service delivery. 2002. <http://www.dpsa.gov.za> (8 February 2008).         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Susan Landman
Susan.Landman@uct.ac.za
Helen Buchanan
Helen.Buchanan@uct.ac.za

Creative Commons License Todo el contenido de esta revista, excepto dónde está identificado, está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons