In order to understand how workers' compensation got started, we need to see what workers were entitled to before workers' compensation. The simple answer is, not much. During the last century, many workers were killed or badly injured in mines, factories, in the forests, and in fishing. As well, many more workers died from diseases caused by their work. One example of these diseases is silicosis.
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in dust in mines or foundries.
There were few laws to protect workers' health and safety. Workers with disabilities were usually fired when they weren't able to do the job they were hired to do. The usual result of major injuries or fatalities was life-long poverty for workers or their families. In theory, injured workers and the families of workers who were killed had the right to sue their employer to try to get enough money to live on. In practice, suing employers was very hard.