Does Workers Compensation Cover Allergic Reactions?

Workers comp may cover treatment for an allergic reaction, but the case details will likely determine your case’s fate.

Worker’s compensation benefits are meant to help injured workers get medical treatment without the financial pressure of paying for it. Most employees in Missouri must carry this insurance policy.

The program may cover treatment for an allergic reaction, but the details of your case will likely determine its fate.

When Allergic Reactions May Be Eligible for Workers Compensation

Missouri worker’s compensation program does not explicitly exclude any injury or illness from eligibility. Instead, it mentions that the worker’s medical condition must directly result from their work activity or environment.

In other words, your allergic reaction must be work-related. What does that mean exactly?

To get worker’s comp benefits for an allergic reaction, you may have to create a link between your job and the reaction itself. Here are some instances where allergic reactions may be compensated:

• You are a kitchen worker who must taste the food and get an allergic reaction to it
• Your employer brought food, or you eat in the office cafeteria
• You come into contact with a new substance at work (such as new cleaning products)
• You work outdoors and get bitten by an insect, or make house calls and come into contact with a client’s pet
• Your boss brings new plants in the office
• You work in an environment with dust, mold, fumes, etc.

In other words, if the allergic reaction occurs because you come into contact with an allergen because of your job, you may file a worker’s comp claim and receive medical treatment.

When Compensation May Not Be Possible

The severity of your allergic reaction may be a factor in your case. For instance, if you only get a rash that may go away in a few days but does not require medical treatment, worker’s compensation may not even be needed. Instead, your boss can remove the allergen or temporarily allow you to work somewhere else until you get better and they can properly clean the space.

You can also be denied if your allergic reaction occurred in any of the following circumstances:

• On your way to and from work (neither are covered by Missouri worker’s compensation)
• Because of the food you brought from home or food you ordered yourself
• Because of an allergen you come into contact with at home
• During breaks, particularly those when you leave your place of employment

St. Louis Workers Compensation Attorney

If you’ve had an allergic reaction at work and aren’t sure if you are eligible for compensation, reach out to a St. Louis workers’ comp attorney as soon as possible. They can determine if your allergic reaction is work-related, as well as ensure you ultimately get the benefits you are entitled to.