The Demolition of Workers Compensation – ProPublica

Dennis Whedbees crew was rushing to prepare an oil well for pumping on the Sweet Grass Woman lease site, a speck of dusty plains rich with crude in Mandaree, North Dakota.

It was getting late that September afternoon in 2012. Whedbee, a 50-year-old derrickhand, was helping another worker remove a pipe fitting on top of the well when it suddenly blew.

As part of our ongoing investigation, we invite you to tell us about your experience navigating the workers comp system. Have something we should look into?

Share Your Story

Each state determines its own workers compensation benefits, which means workers in neighboring states can end up with dramatically different compensation for identical injuries.

Read the Story

Injured workers share their stories, revealing the real-life impact of rollbacks that have been spreading across the country.

Read the Story

Oil and sludge pressurized at more than 700 pounds per square inch tore into Whedbees body, ripping his left arm off just below the elbow. Coworkers jerry-rigged a tourniquet from a sweatshirt and a ratchet strap to stanch his bleeding and got his wife on the phone.

Babe, he said, tell everyone I love them.

Go here to read the rest:
The Demolition of Workers Compensation - ProPublica