An employee injures their foot because they are not wearing safety shoes while in the plant. Benefits would be reduced by what percent?

• A. 20%
• B. 10%
• C. 25%
• D. 15%

Answer: (C)

This question tests how safety-rule violations affect workers’ compensation benefits. When an injury results from an employee’s willful disregard of safety rules, the law allows a penalty that reduces benefits. Not wearing required safety shoes in the plant is exactly such a violation, and it directly contributes to the injury, so benefits are reduced by twenty-five percent. This penalty is meant to encourage safety compliance and typically applies to the indemnity (wage) benefits, not the medical expenses, and only if the rule violation is shown to have caused the injury.