Don’t fall for a smoko: compo for fast food worker injured while smoking before shift

Date: January 30, 2019

 

Mandep Sarkaria v Workers’ Compensation Regulator [2019] ICQ 001.

 

Key Points:

Background:

The worker arrived at her employer’s premises (a well-known fast food outlet) at 8:50 pm, 10 minutes prior to the start of her shift at 9pm, in accordance with her employer’s policy. During the 10 minute period before her shift, the worker climbed a three metre ladder inside the storeroom to enable her to then climb up to the roof of the premises to smoke a cigarette. As the worker descended the ladder, she fell and broke her right leg.

The roof was not a designated staff smoking area. The ladder was only to be used to clean the roof. There was a warning sign present warning staff from accessing the roof. The worker had not sought permission to go onto the roof. The worker had not actually commenced her shift. As part of her work duties, the worker was required to clean the roof on a monthly, two-monthly or three-monthly basis.

At first instance, the worker argued that under section 34(1)(c) of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld) (‘the Act’) her injury occurred out of, or in the course of her employment as the injury occurred while she was temporally absent from her place of employment during an ordinary recess.

Section 34(1)(c) of the Act provides:

An injury to a worker is taken to arise out of, or in the course of, the worker’s employment if the event happens on a day which the worker has attended at the place of employment as required under the terms of the worker’s employment while the worker is temporarily absent from the place of employment during an ordinary recess if the event is not due to the worker voluntarily subjecting themselves to an abnormal risk of injury during the recess.

The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission rejected the worker’s arguments and found that the roof and the ladder were part of the worker’s “place of employment” because she used the ladder to access the roof to perform a part of her duties to clean the roof on a monthly, two-monthly or three-monthly basis.

The Commission also found that the 10 minute pre-start period she was required to be at work was not an “ordinary recess.” This is because the worker had not started her shift and there was no interruption to the worker’s continuous period of work.
On appeal, President Martin of the Industrial Court found that the worker was temporarily absent from her place of employment because:

President Martin found that the worker sustained a work injury because her pre-start smoke “break” meant she was temporarily absent during an ordinary recess because:

The appeal was allowed and compensation paid.

Lessons Learned:

Whether an area of the premises of an employer is considered a “place of employment” for a worker depends on the work duties of the worker at that time.

Any period of time before a shift that a worker is required, by the employer, to be at the premises of the employer will be considered to be an “ordinary recess.”

Contact:

Josiah Lee
Solicitor
Direct: +61 (0) 7 3307 5506
josiah.lee@hbalegal.com
Hamish Craib
Partner
Direct: +61 (0) 7 3307 5503
hamish.craib@hbalegal.com

 

Download PDF here:  Mandep Sarkaria v Workers’ Compensation Regulator.

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