What Are Work-Related Injuries for Workers' Compensation Purposes?

Workers' compensation benefits, which only apply to work-related injuries, can provide an injured worker with some financial relief. However, some employees do not understand the meaning of work-related injuries in the context of worker's compensation claims. Below are cases that fall under work-related injuries.



Workers' compensation covers injuries that occur in the work environment and illnesses that originate from the work environment. The definition of a work environment is broad. Below are some things that define the work environment.



Your usual office or workplace is the most obvious definition of the work environment. For example, if a hospital employs you as a nurse, the hospital premises form your work environment. Thus, you deserve compensation if you slip and fall in the hospital's hallway.



Some employees routinely or occasionally work away from their usual offices. For example, electricians may repair electrical lines for streetlights. In such a case, the street is the electrician's work environment.



Your home office is your work environment. However, you may need to prove that you have a dedicated workspace at home and have your employer's permission to work from home. 



Employers occasionally send their employees on retreats, especially for team bonding. For example, your employer may organize a night at a beach resort during the year-end holidays. In such a case, the beach resort is your work environment if your employer requires your presence at the retreat.



The work environment doesn't have to be a building or any form of real estate. The work environment includes machinery, equipment, and tools you use for your work. For example, workers' compensation covers injuries you might suffer in an auto accident with a company car.



Work-related injuries also occur when you are engaged in your normal work activities. Say your company hired you as an electrician, and you:

• Conduct electrical inspections
• Take care of electrical repairs
• Purchase electrical supplies for the company

In such a case, workers' compensation applies if you suffer an injury while negotiating the purchase of electrical supplies with a supplier.

However, you might not get the compensation if you are in the work environment but not engaged in your usual work activities. Consider a physical therapist employed at a hospital and has an off day every Saturday. One Saturday, the physical therapist visits the hospital to collect a personal item they forgot the previous day. Workers' compensation will not apply if the physical therapist slips and falls on the hospital's grounds during their personal visit.



Lastly, work-related injuries also include those that arise if you are engaged in activities that benefit your employer. In such a case, it doesn't matter whether the activity occurs in your usual work environment or falls under your normal work duties.

The rationale is that the balance of power favors the employer in an employer-employee relationship. For example, many employees would struggle to object if their employer sends them on a personal errand. Thus, the worker's compensation application makes sense if the employee suffers an accident during the errand.

Consider a case in which your employer requests that you get them coffee on your way to work. You deserve compensation if you slip and fall while collecting your employer's coffee.

The workers' compensation department can deny your claim if they suspect your injury is not work-related. Borbi, Clancy & Patrizi, LLC, can help you prove your claim and get the compensation you deserve. We can also help you appeal workers' compensation denials. Contact us to evaluate your case and determine how to proceed.