An employee is attacked while performing a job-related task offsite due to a hazard unique to the employer's operations. The injury is:

An employee is attacked while performing a job-related task offsite due to a hazard unique to the employer's operations. The injury is:

• A. Injury offsite during a job-related task may be compensable due to special risk.
• B. Injury offsite is never compensable.
• C. Injury offsite is always compensable.
• D. Injury offsite is compensable only if it occurs on premises.

Answer: (A)

In California workers’ compensation, an injury offsite can be compensable if it arises out of the employee’s job and the danger causing the injury is a special risk inherent to the employer’s operations. This is the special risk doctrine. Here, the employee was attacked while performing a job-related task offsite, and the hazard causing the attack is unique to the employer’s operations. That makes the injury connected to work duties, so it qualifies for benefits. It’s not an absolute rule that offsite injuries are always or never compensable, or that compensation only applies on the premises; what matters is the link between the injury and the employer’s specific work-related risk.

In California workers’ compensation, an injury offsite can be compensable if it arises out of the employee’s job and the danger causing the injury is a special risk inherent to the employer’s operations. This is the special risk doctrine. Here, the employee was attacked while performing a job-related task offsite, and the hazard causing the attack is unique to the employer’s operations. That makes the injury connected to work duties, so it qualifies for benefits. It’s not an absolute rule that offsite injuries are always or never compensable, or that compensation only applies on the premises; what matters is the link between the injury and the employer’s specific work-related risk.