Virtual hearings were first tested inthe Capital District Office in Menands in November 2017, thenrolled out across the state. Since the beginning of the pilot, morethan 33,000 hearings have included at least one party who appearedremotely, successfully connecting injured workers, law judges andrepresentatives from all over New York and nationally. (Photo:David Handschuh/NYLJ)
Injured workers in New York can now attendvirtual hearings after the New York State Workers' CompensationBoard launched its first-in-the-nation initiative. This isthe first high definition, all access system for legal hearings inthe nation, where multiple users in different locations log in onceand then move from one hearing to another.
|To participate in a virtual hearing, the partyof interest needs only a smartphone, tablet or computer with amicrophone and video camera, as well as a high-speed internetconnection. All participants can see and hear each other on theirrespective screens. Additionally, workers' compensation law judgescan share claim documents with all involved parties.
|Related: With subrogation, is an injured worker left payingthe price?
|(Virtual) change is happening
The board developed virtual hearings in partnership with theOffice of Information Technology Services. It is also developing amobile app, for future release, that parties may download and useto attend hearings.
|The virtual hearings will provide injured workers a way tomove the claim process forward without the needto travel many miles for a hearing that may last only minutes,which is especially beneficial depending on the extent of theirinjuries.
|"This state-of-the-art, secure technology removes obstacles andstress for hard-working New Yorkers who were injured on the job, aswell as for business owners and the professionals who participatein the system," Board Chair Rodriguez said in a press release."Virtual hearings allow injured workers to remain in their homesand other participants to attend from their workplaces. Onesuccessful pilot and now statewide launch demonstrate New York'scommitment to helping people hurt on the job."
|Related: 5 ways to make your workplace safety-incentiveprogram OSHA compliant & more effective
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