As professionals specializing in Workers’ Compensation, it’s interesting to occasionally pause and reflects on the origins of this business, and why it’s so unique from other areas of medical care. There may be no better time for such pause as in 2011. It represents the 100th anniversary of two of the most significant events in the history of the American workers compensation system.

March 25, 2011 was the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, a devastating fire that fatally injured 146 workers, mostly women between the ages of 13-23. Most died attempting to escape the flames, jumping from nine and 10 stories up, due to the employer’s complete disregard for safety measures as basic as fire escapes and clear exits. The public outrage at this event, and the memorials and tributes to the Triangle victims that continue today, signaled a turning point in the fight for safer workplaces, workers’ compensation and the rights of workers’ in America.

As background to this event, prior to mid-1911, there were no workers compensation benefits as we know them today. The only source of compensation for any injured employee was by bringing suit in court, and very few workers had the means to bring suit. So was the case for the family members of victims of the Triangle Shirt Factory fire. In their civil suit against the owners, all of 23 families netted $75 in damages as compensation for the loss of their loved ones.

But the Triangle Factory tragedy was a major, energizing moment in the history of American workers compensation law. Before the end of 1911, 10 states had enacted mandatory workers’ compensation laws requiring employers to pay for medical care and lost wages resulting from injuries caused by the workplace. Today, workers’ compensation laws are in effect in every state in the nation.

David Iskowe began his health care career serving as Vice President for HealthAmerica Development, one of the industry’s first and largest for-profit HMO developers. He later co-founded FOCUS Healthcare, still one of the nation’s largest Workers’ Comp PPOs. In early 2002, Iskowe founded EnableComp to help hospitals manage their revenue cycle and reimbursement for Workers’ Compensation claims, and continues to be its Chairman.