Injured man says job was too risky for one person

Warning: It’s never a good idea to put staffers’ lives at risk in order to reduce labor costs. As proof, consider a recent court ruling in favor of an injured employee who sought an increase in his workers’ comp payments by claiming that his employer deliberately injured him.

The crew member was assigned to clean production parts moving down a conveyor line. The job had previously been performed by two workers, but due to a staffing shortfall, his boss told him to handle the task by himself.

To accomplish the work, the staffer stood on one side of the conveyor to clean the parts. Then he climbed over the conveyor system to access parts on the other side of the line. While he was atop the conveyer, the equipment activated and he was struck by moving parts. He suffered severe crushing injuries to his legs.

Seeking additional compensation, the man said his employer intended to injure him by requiring that the task be done by one person rather than by two people. He also noted that he repeatedly complained to his supervisor that the job was too risky for just one staff member.

The court agreed, ruling that his employer knew it was dangerous for just one person to perform the job. As a result, the man was entitled to a bump in his comp payments.

Cite: Janikowski v. Tesla Motors, California Workers’ Comp Appeals Board, No. ADJ13228350, 7/14/25.

(From the September 2, 2025, issue of Safety Alert for Supervisors. To start your no-obligation trial subscription to the publication right now, please click here.)