Synopsis of Rule of Law. The Pennsylvania Workmen’s Compensation Act limits compensation for medical services to situations where an ‘injury’ has occurred and the term ‘injury’ has been broadly defined to encompass all work-related harm including any hurtful or damaging effect which may be suffered by anyone. Pursuant to the Act, persons exposed to a serious risk of contracting a disease which is commonly known to be highly contagious/infectious and potentially deadly, have been ‘injured’ for the purpose of receiving compensation.
Other courts have held that persons exposed to a serious risk of contracting a disease which is commonly known to be highly contagious/infectious and potentially deadly, have been injured for the purpose of receiving compensation under the Act.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Was the firefighter injured as defined by statute and thus entitled to compensation?
Held. Yes. The court affirmed W.C.A.B.’s order.
Discussion. In affirming the decision by a worker’s comp Appeal Board referee that claimant was “injured” for the purpose of receiving compensation under Pennsylvania Workmen’s Compensation Act, the Court carefully considered of several factors, all of which are instructive for examining similar claims. These considerations included the seriousness and immediacy of the risk created by exposure, as well as the reasonableness of the services sought and rendered. The court noted also that the Act “is remedial in nature and intended to benefit the worker, and its provisions should be liberally construed to effectuate its humanitarian objectives.” Parenthetically, the court took the opportunity to review the rationale by which the agency, like many other administrative body, operates, noting, “The scope of review of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania of an order of the Workmen’s Compensation Appeals Board is limited to determining whether a violation of constitutional rights has occur
red, an error of law was committed, or whether necessary findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence.” With regard to the latter consideration, the court pointed out, “Unequivocal medical testimony is only required in a claim under the Pennsylvania Workmen’s Compensation Act when the causal connection between one’s injury and his work is not obvious.”