Workplace shooting led to employee’s PTSD, says Tennessee court

Witnesses to shootings or other violent acts on the job also can be at risk for PTSD and eligible for workers' comp coverage. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Workplace injuries aren’t always physical as most physicians can attest. Often, observing an accident or another violent event can cause psychological injuries that are just as real as a broken arm. Those types of injuries aren’t well understood or acknowledged by many employers or carriers. But one recent case in Tennessee turned out differently.

A worker who witnessed a shooting at work and then suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was found to be totally and permanently disabled, according to the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court of Tennessee.