Illinois Marks 90th Anniversary of Work Comp

2002 marks the 90th year of the workers' compensation law in Illinois. Before workers' compensation laws took effect, injured workers had to file lawsuits in court. The process was prolonged and uncertain, with huge risks to both employers and employees. In 1909, one of the worst coal mine disasters in U.S. history occurred in Cherry, Illinois, where a fire killed 259 men and boys. In response, the legislature met in a special session and created a commission to study the best way to handle industrial accidents. That led to the passage of an Illinois workers' compensation law, which took ...