Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

Prior to the introduction of workers compensation laws, the doctrine of contributory negligence stated what?

1. Workers are not responsible for their own accidents

2. Employers are liable for all accidents

3. The worker assumed responsibility for accidents

4. The government ensures workplace safety

The correct answer is: The worker assumed responsibility for accidents

The doctrine of contributory negligence is a legal principle that holds that if a person was partly responsible for an accident or injury, they may not be able to claim compensation for their damages. In the context of workers’ compensation laws prior to their introduction, this doctrine meant that if a worker contributed to their own injury through their negligence, they could not recover damages from their employer. Essentially, it placed the burden of responsibility for the accident on the worker if any degree of fault could be assigned to them. Therefore, the correct understanding of this doctrine highlights that workers might assume some responsibility for their own accidents, which could lead to them being barred from receiving compensation. This principle often skewed the balance of accountability heavily against the employees. This understanding is pivotal in appreciating the evolution of workers' compensation laws, which aimed to create a more equitable system for addressing workplace injuries, regardless of the concept of negligence.