Teachers and school staff dedicate their careers to educating and protecting students, but the job can also come with serious physical risks. In Minnesota, we have seen an increase in workers’ compensation claims involving educators injured while performing their duties in schools.
As the child of retired educators, I have seen firsthand the dedication teachers bring to their work every day. Unfortunately, that dedication can sometimes place educators in situations where workplace injuries occur. Understanding when an injury may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits is important for teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and other school employees. Below is a list of common work-related injuries that teachers and school employees run into.
Assaults by Students
Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly more common for teachers or school staff to be injured by student assaults. These incidents can result in concussions, broken bones, neck and back injuries, and other serious conditions.
Under Minnesota workers’ compensation law, injuries caused by assaults are analyzed under categories established in the Minnesota case, Hanson v. Robitshek Schneider Co. The law generally recognizes three categories of assault cases:
Purely work-related assaults
These occur in situations where the motivation or provocation for the assault arises solely from the employee performing job duties. Educator assault cases typically fall into this category because in most cases, the injury occurs while the educator was supervising, redirecting, disciplining, or otherwise interacting with a student as part of their employment duties when the assault occurs.
A special education teacher, for example, may be struck, kicked, bitten, or otherwise injured by a student who becomes dysregulated and experiences a behavioral crisis. A teacher may also be assaulted by a student reacting to discipline or the enforcement of classroom rules, or while intervening to stop a fight between students. In some situations, parents, guardians, or other visitors may also physically assault school staff. These incidents can result in significant physical injuries, psychological trauma, or both.
Fortunately, Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system is no-fault, meaning an injured teacher generally does not have to prove anyone else was at fault to receive benefits. Instead, the focus is on whether the injury arose out of and in the course of employment. If the assault by a student arose out of and in the course of the educator’s employment, the resulting injuries are generally compensable under Minnesota workers’ compensation law.
Purely personal assaults
These involve situations where the assailant was solely motivated by personal animosity completely unrelated to the victim’s job. These injuries are generally not compensable under Minnesota workers’ compensation law.
Combination of personal and work-related motivation assaults
These are situations where the assault was directed at the victim neither purely for personal reasons nor solely because of employment. These types of assaults often involve unknown assailants whose motivations cannot be determined or random assaults where the assailant’s motivations are neither personal nor employment related. Injuries in this category are ordinarily found to be compensable under Minnesota workers’ compensation law.
Falls on School Stairways
Another common work injury we see among educators involves falls on school stairways. These falls can lead to significant harm, including fractures and injuries to the knees, shoulders, head, and lower back. In Roller-Dick v. CentraCare Health Systems, the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals recognized that stairways are inherently dangerous because their use presents an increased risk of injury. As a result, injuries sustained in a work-related stairway fall are likely compensable under Minnesota workers’ compensation law.
Cleaning and Organizing the Classroom
With the start of the school year approaching, many teachers will spend time preparing their classrooms after the summer break. This often involves unpacking supplies, moving furniture, and cleaning or organizing the classroom. Exposure to cleaning products used by janitorial staff can sometimes cause skin reactions or other exposure-related injuries requiring medical treatment. At the same time, lifting heavy boxes of books or supplies, moving desks and tables, and rearranging classroom furniture can place significant strain on the body. These activities can result in muscle strains, back and shoulder injuries, or other musculoskeletal conditions that may require medical treatment and time away from work.
Protecting Minnesota Educators After Workplace Injuries
Educators spend their careers caring for students and supporting their communities. When teachers and school staff are injured on the job, Minnesota workers’ compensation laws may provide benefits for medical treatment, wage loss, rehabilitation, and other support.
Because workers’ compensation claims can involve complicated legal and factual issues, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities after a workplace injury. If you are a teacher or school employee who has been injured at work, the experienced attorneys at Meuser, Yackley & Rowland can help you navigate your workers’ compensation claim.
Contact our office today at (952) 345-2052 or email kcrocker@meuserlaw.com to discuss your case and protect your rights.