Bulletin No. 55-06
October 11, 2006
State Division of Workers' Compensation
to hold free Spanish-language seminar on workers' compensation benefits and
laws in San Francisco
Seminar marks one year anniversary of the Spanish-language
outreach program The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) will conduct a free
Spanish-language seminar on workers' compensation benefits and laws in San Francisco
on Thursday, Oct. 12 from 6-7 p.m. This seminar, which rotates monthly between
San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, is part of a larger effort to reach the
Spanish-speaking community launched a year ago by the division. "In this first year we've talked directly with hundreds of Spanish-speaking
workers," said DWC acting Administrative Director Carrie Nevans. "And
we've specifically identified those in high hazard occupations because we know
they're more likely to get sick or hurt because of work."
The seminars are set up for employees that have recently filed a workers' compensation
claim with their employer, but any worker can benefit from attending and anyone
can attend. The San Francisco workshop will be held:
Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006 The Bay Area seminars take place on the second Thursday of each month and rotate
between three cities, moving to Oakland in November, San Jose in December, back
to San Francisco in January and so forth. In addition to the ongoing Bay Area
seminar, the division has hosted sessions in Calexico, Los Angeles, Salinas
and Fresno.
"We've formed partnerships with other state agencies and community groups
to help maximize our effectiveness," said Nevans. "We're now reaching
people who may not otherwise have known where to go for help with workers' compensation
questions."
At the seminars, held at easily accessible community locations, employees get
information on their right to medical treatment, disability payments, returning
to work after an injury and resolving a disagreement over a claim. The DWC also conducts English-language seminars for injured workers on a monthly
basis at each of its 24 local offices. A listing of workshop days, times and
locations in English and Spanish can be found on DWC's Web site at www.dir.ca.gov/dwc.
Click on the link that says, "Injured on the job? Need to know your rights?"
Injured workers can also call 1-800-736-7401 to find the workshop near them
and hear other recorded information. To go directly to workshop locations in
English, callers should press 7, then 7 again, then 1 after dialing the 800
number. Spanish-speaking workers may call 1-800-736-7401 and press 2 for details.
The division also makes workshop posters in English and Spanish available for
free to community based organizations, employers, medical providers and others
who'd like to post them. Call 510-286-7076 for more information ###
6-7 p.m.
The Women's Building
3543 18th Street
San Francisco CA