Will being intoxicated when I got hurt at work impact my workers’ comp claim?

The amount of alcohol in your system.

Even if alcohol was detected in your system, it does not mean that you were impaired—or that the impairment led to your injury.

Whether the employer provided the alcohol.

If intoxication occurred with the permission or direction of the employer, such as at a mandatory work event, the injury may be covered.

Whether you were impaired by prescription medications.

If you were suffering from drowsiness, dizziness, or other side effects of a medication that you were legally prescribed, you likely still qualify for injury benefits.

The type of injury you sustained.

Intoxication may be a factor in sudden accidents but is less relevant in cases of occupational illness. For example, your alcohol habits have little bearing on whether you develop work-related breathing problems or a repetitive stress injury.