A Guide to Colorado Workers’ Comp for Foundry Workers
Foundry work is hard, but getting the workers’ comp benefits you deserve after an injury shouldn’t be
Foundry work is a demanding job and comes with serious risks. Whether you’re pouring molten metal, operating heavy machinery, or working around extreme heat and toxic fumes, the job often takes a toll on your body.
Denver is home to several well-established foundries, including Heritage Die Casting Company and Prestige Casting, Inc., which have been serving Colorado and beyond for decades. While these businesses make an effort to reduce the inherent hazards in foundries, the reality is that foundry workers face a high risk of catastrophic injuries and debilitating occupational diseases because of their jobs.
That’s why Colorado workers’ compensation exists—to ensure injured and sick workers get the medical care and financial support they need after on-the-job injuries or illnesses. But getting those benefits isn’t always easy. Employers and insurance companies often delay, deny, or undervalue claims, leaving injured workers without the support they’re legally entitled to receive.
If your claim was denied or undervalued, you still have options to receive the compensation level you need. In this article, we’ll break down everything Denver foundry workers need to know about their rights to workers’ comp, how to file a claim to maximize compensation, and how to appeal a workers’ comp claim denial.
If you need help with your workers’ comp claim or would like to learn more about your options after an injury in a Colorado foundry, reach out to the experienced Denver workers’ compensation attorneys at Babcock Tucker to schedule a free consultation.
What types of foundry injuries are covered under workers’ comp in Colorado?
Under Colorado law, almost any injury, illness, or disease that is directly related to your job qualifies for workers’ comp. Below are some examples of common foundry worker injuries and conditions that typically qualify:
- Burns. Working with molten metal is no joke—one wrong move and furnace operators, metal pourers, and mold technicians can suffer severe burns from splashes, steam, or contact with hot surfaces. Even with protective gear, accidents happen in seconds, leaving workers with painful, sometimes life-altering injuries.
- Crush injuries and amputations. Even a split-second mistake with heavy machinery can have devastating consequences. Machine operators and maintenance workers risk getting caught in presses, conveyor belts, or molding machines, which can crush limbs or even lead to amputations.
- Fall-related injuries. Foundries are full of slippery floors and high platforms, ladders, and scaffolding, making falls relatively common. Falls are a leading cause of broken bones (especially arms, legs, and ribs), as well as severe back injuries and paralysis.
- Head and brain injuries. Overhead cranes, swinging metal parts, and moving equipment put foundry workers at serious risk for concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). A single blow to the head can cause long-term memory issues, dizziness, or worse.
- Hearing loss. The roar of machinery, the pounding of metal, and the constant hum of industrial equipment make foundries some of the loudest workplaces around. Over time, prolonged exposure—even with ear protection—can lead to permanent hearing loss, making it harder to communicate, work safely, and enjoy life outside of the job.
- Repetitive motion injuries. Day after day of lifting, hammering, grinding, and using hand tools wears down the body. Core makers, grinders, and other foundry workers often develop chronic joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other repetitive stress injuries that can make even simple movements excruciating.
- Respiratory diseases and lead poisoning. Foundry workers are exposed to a hazardous mix of metal fumes, silica dust, and toxic chemicals that can cause lasting damage. Chronic conditions like silicosis, COPD, occupational asthma, and lung cancer often develop after years of exposure—sometimes without noticeable symptoms until the disease has progressed to the point of being irreversible. Lead poisoning is another serious risk, especially for those handling lead-based alloys or inhaling lead dust and fumes. Similar to the other conditions, by the time the person knows they’ve been affected, their options for medical treatment might be limited.
While workers’ comp covers most job-related injuries and illnesses, you must prove that your condition is work-related to receive benefits.
This can be straightforward for sudden accidents, like a burn from molten metal. However, chronic conditions and occupational diseases—such as lung disease or hearing loss—may require strong medical evidence and legal support to prove they’re the direct result of hazards at work.
If your employer or its insurance company challenges your claim, a local Colorado workers’ compensation lawyer near you can help you gather the proof needed to secure the benefits you deserve.
In the news: OSHA finds worker’s tragic death at an Illinois foundry was preventable
In 2022, a federal investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that Caterpillar Inc. failed to provide required fall protection at its Mapleton, Illinois, foundry, leading to the tragic death of a 39-year-old worker who had only been on the job for 9 days.
On June 2, 2022, the employee, a melting specialist, fell into an 11-foot-deep pot of molten iron heated to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit while collecting a sample from the furnace. OSHA determined that Caterpillar routinely exposed workers to unprotected fall hazards near open ceramic containers of molten iron.
OSHA cited Caterpillar for a willful violation and proposed a $145,027 fine, emphasizing that proper guardrails, restraint systems, or hazard elimination could have prevented the fatality.
Are all foundry workers in Colorado eligible for workers’ comp benefits?
In Colorado, most employers are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. So, if you’re a foundry worker who’s classified as an employee—whether full-time or part-time—you’re likely covered under workers’ comp, regardless of how long you’ve been on the job.
However, independent contractors are generally not covered, so it’s important to be aware of your employment status.
One of the biggest advantages of workers’ comp is that it’s a no-fault system. This means you don’t have to prove your employer was negligent or responsible for your injury to get benefits. Even if you made a mistake that led to your accident, you’re still likely entitled to medical benefits, wage replacement, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and more as long as your injury happened at work.
What Benefits Are Available in a Colorado Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Learn about the different types of workers’ comp benefits available to injured workers in Denver.
How do I file a claim for workers’ comp in Colorado after being injured at a foundry?
If you’ve been injured or developed an occupational illness while working in a foundry, you won’t receive benefits unless you take the necessary steps to report your injury and file a workers’ comp claim. Here’s what you need to do:
- Report your injury right away. Colorado law typically gives you just 10 days to notify your employer in writing after a workplace injury or after you’ve been diagnosed with a work-related illness. Even if your employer already knows what happened, you still need to submit a written notice to protect your claim. If you miss this deadline, your claim could be denied unless you can prove you had a valid reason for the delay.
- Get medical treatment from an approved doctor. To strengthen your claim, seek medical care immediately and make sure you see a doctor approved by your employer’s workers’ comp insurance. If you wait too long, the insurance company may argue that your injury wasn’t serious or that something else caused it. Essentially, not getting treatment right away gives them an opening to delay, dispute, or deny your benefits, so always see a doctor as soon as possible.
- File Form WC 15 with the state. Even though your employer is responsible for notifying their insurance provider, you also need to file form WC 15, “Worker’s Claim for Compensation,” with the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation. This should be done as soon as possible, but you have up to 2 years from the date of injury or diagnosis to file.
What if my workers’ comp claim is denied?
Insurance companies don’t always play fair and may deny your claim, arguing that your injury isn’t work-related, that you didn’t report it in time, or that you can still work despite your condition. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal.
An experienced attorney can help you with the appeals process by ensuring all required legal forms are filed correctly, compiling medical evidence to support your claim, and representing you in hearings to prove your injury or illness is job-related.
The bottom line: Never take a denied claim to be the last word. Discuss your case with a qualified Denver workers’ compensation attorney to ensure you understand your legal rights and options.
Injured in a Denver foundry? We can help!
If you’ve been injured or developed a serious illness from your work in a Denver foundry, you deserve full and fair compensation—not the lowball offers that insurance companies often push on injured workers.
At Babcock Tucker, we’ve made it our mission to fight for hardworking people just like you, ensuring workers across Colorado receive the medical care and financial support they need to move forward.
Our skilled Denver work injury attorneys will calculate the full scope of your losses, including future medical expenses and lost wages, so you don’t end up paying the price later. We know the tricks insurers use to delay or deny claims, and we work to stop those issues before they ever happen.
If you’re facing resistance from your employer or their insurance company after an injury at work, don’t wait. Schedule a free consultation today with Babcock Tucker, and let’s make sure you get the benefits you deserve.
