Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

Which workers are typically excluded from workers compensation laws?

1. Full-time employees in manufacturing

2. Domestic servants and agricultural workers

3. Workers in corporate offices

4. All employees in administrative sectors

The correct answer is: Domestic servants and agricultural workers

The exclusion of domestic servants and agricultural workers from workers' compensation laws is due to the historical context and the nature of the work involved in these roles. Many states have specific exemptions in their workers' compensation laws that exclude certain types of employment, primarily those considered less formal or less traditional, such as domestic service or informal agricultural labor. These workers may not be covered because of the nature of their employment relationships, which may not fit the typical employer-employee framework seen in more formal workplaces. In addition, this exclusion reflects the regulatory intent to safeguard small household employers from the financial burdens of insurance that larger employers must carry, given the varying levels of job stability and formality in domestic and agricultural work. This can result in a gap in coverage for these workers, potentially leaving them vulnerable if they suffer an injury while performing their duties. The other groups mentioned in the answer options, such as full-time employees in manufacturing, corporate office workers, and all employees in administrative sectors, are generally more likely to be covered under workers' compensation laws because their employment is considered standard and consistent with the laws' intent to protect employees in more traditional employment roles.