Though it’s nowhere near April Fool’s Day, today’s story is about a prankster at work. His trick did not go as planned and he was burned very badly at work. He tried to receive workers’ compensation benefits but was ultimately denied as it was determined his injuries did not stem from his work related duties.

Bryan Hedrick worked for Big-O Tires in Missouri as a mechanic, and lit a can of industrial strength adhesive on fire to try and startle one of his co-workers. The glue started to split and flame, burning the co-worker and Hedrick. The co-worker could not work for six months and Hedrick ended up in the hospital with severe burns, even going into a coma for some time. He claims he has no recollection of the event and says he was heavily medicated while he was in the hospital. He claims his medical bills cost just over $250,000. He admitted that he did sometimes engage in horseplay but testified that he would never light a can of glue on fire. He himself told the administrative law judge that there was no work related reason that he would ever light a can of glue on fire. The co-worker tells a different story. The co-worker was allowed to collect workers’ compensation benefits because his injuries stemmed from an unprovoked attack at work.

There was a history of “horseplay” at this company, but for the most part managers and employees testified that it was usually silly in nature and not dangerous. Employees might grease door knobs or put silly things in a co-worker’s toolbox. Hedrick argued that his injuries arose as a result of an accident at work. Since he failed to prove that his duties at work required him to light a can of glue on fire it was determined that the incident was not an accident and did not occur within the course and scope of his employment. There were hazardous materials at the worksite, but using them in this way was not part of employment. Even though horseplay at his work was generally permitted, this act was extremely dangerous and his injuries could not be considered compensable, according to a ruling from the Missouri Labor & Industrial Relations Commission.