Ruling: Injury compensation not tied to risky circumstances

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico court ruling says a worker is entitled to compensation for a trip-and-fall injury suffered at work even though the accident wasn't linked to any particularly risky circumstances related to his job.
The state Court of Appeals' ruling Tuesday overturns a workers' compensation judge's order denying compensation for an Intel contractor's maintenance technician who broke his arm from tripping while walking on a level, unobstructed hallway to reach a work site in a long building.
The workers' compensation judge ruled that David D. Griego's accident didn't arise out of his employment because his injury wasn't reasonably related to any job-related risks.
However, the Court of Appeals said Griego' injury did arise from his employment because he was at work when injured and doing something requested by his employer.