In the context of Workers Compensation, what does 'compensable injury' refer to?

A 'compensable injury' refers to injuries that are covered by the Workers Compensation policy. This means that if an employee sustains an injury while performing job-related duties, and that injury meets the criteria set forth in the Workers Compensation system, it would be deemed compensable. The Workers Compensation policy typically outlines specific conditions under which injuries are covered, including whether the injury was sustained during the course of employment and whether it resulted from a work-related activity.

Optioning injuries that occur at work does not factor in whether those injuries meet the legal and policy criteria for compensation, hence not all work-related injuries will qualify. Likewise, injuries requiring hospitalization or minor injuries that do not need treatment do not inherently define compensability, as these considerations must align with the workers' compensation policies to determine whether an employee is eligible for benefits. Thus, understanding the definition of compensable injury is crucial for ensuring that eligible employees receive the benefits they are entitled to when they face injuries in the workplace.