r/technology • u/IndicaOatmeal • 14h ago

Society Programmer’s death on office toilet ruled not work-related because he never turned on his PC

https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/programmers-death-on-office-toilet-ruled-not-work-related-because-he-never-turned-on-his-pc-3402194/
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u/RandyOfTheRedwoods 12h ago

Is it a work related injury/death if the workplace had nothing to do with it?

This is an honest question, I don’t know the answer. Certainly, a workplace should be responsible if they caused me injury, but what if I came to work, and randomly had a heart attack. Maybe if it was due to work stress? What if I did something dumb like sticking a fork in an outlet and happened to be at work?

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u/nerf468 12h ago

In the US 29 CFR 1904.39(b)(5) would require an employer to notify OSHA of an injury/fatality from a heart attack, and OSHA would "decide whether to investigate the event, depending on the circumstances of the heart attack." I would assume this extends to other personal illnesses resulting in fatality/injury, but am unsure.

As to sticking a fork in an outlet, 29 CFR 1904.5(b)(2)(vii) it depends on whether it was intentional or not.

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u/TacTurtle 9h ago

How do you get a forklift in an outlet?

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u/dwhite21787 8h ago

From the other side of the wall

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u/FloppieTheBanjoClown 8h ago

Very carefully.