Woman falls into fountain at a mall

[Edwina's Secretary]

Doesn't CA have a worke's compensation program? On Ohio, we would never address fault in that situation.

Of course there is a WC program here. Fault is not the issue as to who pays - the company pays. That's true in every state. But that does not mean the company cannot - and should not - take action with employees who do not work safely.

It is possible to make the case that an accident/injury at work does not arise out of and in the course of employment - but that is extremely difficult.

But I am a believer that there should be consequences for failing to follow safey rules. Just because the company has to pay doesn't mean there shouldn't be consequences for the employee. Accidents - for the most part - don't just happen and if the accident happens because the employee didn't follow the proscribed procedure/safety rules - it is no different than if there is a violation of any other workplace procedure/rule.