Employer Took Responsibility for Transporting Claimant Home After Cancellation of Work Due to a Storm—Injury During Ride Home Compensable

The Third Department affirmed the Workers’ Compensation Board’s determination that plaintiff was injured on the job.  A snowstorm forced the cancellation of work and the employer took responsibility for getting the claimant home.  Because the van used to transport claimant had no seats, claimant injured her spine during the trip:

Generally, travel to and from the place of employment is not considered to be within the scope of employment and, thus, injuries sustained during that period are not compensable … . However, an exception arises when the employer takes responsibility for transporting employees, particularly where the employer is in exclusive control of the means of conveyance … . The key determination in establishing compensability is whether there is “some nexus between the accident and the employment” … . Here, it is undisputed that the employer furnished the van for transportation, one of claimant’s supervisors was the driver and, further, claimant’s injuries were sustained during the course of that transportation while she was still on the clock and being paid. Inasmuch as the employer took responsibility for the inherent risks of transporting its employees from the work site and had exclusive control of the conveyance, we find no reason to disturb the Board’s determination that claimant’s injury arose out of and in the course of her employment … . Matter of Noboa v International Shoppes Inc, 2014 NY Slip Op 07540, 3rd Dept 11-6-14