If an employee is intoxicated at the time of an injury, what impact does this have on workers' compensation claims?

When an employee is intoxicated at the time of an injury, it can impact workers' compensation claims significantly. If the intoxication is proven to be a contributing factor to the injury, benefits may be denied. Workers' compensation policies generally include provisions where benefits can be denied if the employee's impairment due to alcohol or drugs is found to have played a role in the incident that led to the injury.

This principle is established to discourage unsafe behavior in the workplace and to maintain a level of accountability for employees. By denying benefits in cases where intoxication is a factor, it reinforces the idea that employees are responsible for their conduct while on the job. This aligns with the overarching goal of workers' compensation, which aims to protect both employees and employers from the consequences of workplace injuries, while also ensuring a safe working environment.