Workers’ Comp for Laser Tag Injury? Why a Court Said ‘Yes’

Ah, team building! Getting to know your co-workers better! Establishing working relationships! Then, someone has to go and ruin it all by getting hurt during laser tag.

The first workers’ comp law in the U.S. was passed in 1911. Laser tag wasn’t born until 77 years later.

Workers’ comp even predated team building, which supposedly started after studies in the late 1920s.

So it might be fair to say that lawmakers didn’t anticipate cases like this one when the comp system was set up.

But like all laws, it’s up to courts to adapt them to modern circumstances. That’s how you get decisions like this one.

Timothy Holliday worked for Tropical Nut & Fruit Co. in North Carolina as a territory manager and outside sales representative.

From Aug. 18-20, 2011, Tropical had its annual sales and marketing conference. Attendance was mandatory for Holliday, and he was paid his normal salary during the three days. He wasn’t permitted to bring his spouse or children along.

On the first evening of the conference, Tropical organized a social event. Attendees were assigned to either bowling or laser tag at a sports center, with all the activities paid for by the company. Tropical also assigned the workers to teams for either bowling or laser tag.

Read Full Article At Safetynewsalert.com

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