Excerpts from CookCountyRecord.com:
A recent decision by the Illinois Appellate Court has forced the state’s workers’ compensation commission to reconsider a claim made by a Homewood firefighter who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic event. The court found that there is legal precedent supporting his claim, and that the commission acted too quickly in dismissing it.
Lt. Scott Moran, a 25-year veteran of the Homewood Fire Department, initially filed for workers' compensation coverage due to PTSD symptoms he developed after responding to a devastating house fire on March 30, 2010. An arbitrator ruled against him, stating that he did not suffer an “accidental injury†that arose from his employment. That decision was upheld by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. However, after appealing through both the Cook County Circuit Court and the Appellate Court, the ruling was overturned.
The incident involved multiple fire departments and a critical moment when Moran, as the highest-ranking officer on the scene, had to make quick decisions. He was preparing to enter the burning house with another firefighter to rescue someone trapped inside when Brian Carey, the ambulance driver, volunteered to go in instead. While Carey and the other firefighter were inside, the flames suddenly intensified, causing severe injuries to Carey, who later died.
Following the tragedy, the fire department suspended all operations for about 10 days and referred all emergency calls to other agencies. All firefighters at the scene were given access to mental health services and were not allowed to return to work until cleared by a psychologist. In April 2010, Moran sought help from a psychologist and was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.
Moran was cleared to return to duty nine months after the fire, once his doctor confirmed that he could manage his symptoms. However, the original arbitrator ruled that his PTSD was not a result of a physical injury or direct exposure to the trauma, and therefore did not qualify for workers' compensation benefits. She also noted that he hadn’t witnessed the death of Brian Carey and wasn't directly involved in the rescue efforts.
The appellate court disagreed, emphasizing that firefighters face unique and extreme stressors that are not typically experienced by workers in other professions. It cited case law that states emotional distress should be evaluated based on an objective, reasonable-person standard. The court pointed out that Moran's feelings of guilt and responsibility as the incident commander were significant factors in his psychological trauma.
Additionally, the court highlighted that the fire department itself recognized the event as traumatic, providing time off and mental health resources to all involved firefighters. “The claimant’s presence outside the house does not preclude the event from being traumatic,†the court stated. It concluded that this was not a typical workplace situation, but rather a single, life-altering event that caused genuine psychological harm.
Justice Bruce D. Stewart delivered the opinion of the court, with Justices William Holdridge, Thomas Hoffman, Donald Hudson, and Sheldon Harris concurring. The decision marks an important step in recognizing PTSD as a valid occupational injury for first responders, reinforcing the need for fair and thorough evaluation of such claims.
Coating Machinery,Bottom Spray Coater,Pharmaceutical Coating Machine,Tablet Film Coating Machine
Changzhou Bole Tech Co.,Ltd , https://www.boledrying.com