A compensable workers compensation injury is generally defined as an occupational injury that arises "out of and in the course of employment".
Translation: for the injury to be covered by workmans comp, the injury must generally have occured at work, and must also have been related to work.
Therefore, an injury that occurs in the course of one's work, or an injury that occurs while running an errand for one's employer would typically be covered by workmans comp, whereas an injury that occurs on the premises of one's job location during lunch time would not be covered by workman's comp.
Furthermore, to be covered by workers compensation, an occupational injury must generally have resulted from an accident (though some injuries, it is true, are the result of repeat or cumulative trauma, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or conditions resulting from toxic substance exposure).
Accidents, of course, are events that happen unexpectedly and without prior knowledge. And for this reason, an individual who willfully injures himself or places himself into a position for which such an outcome is likely will generally not be covered by workmans comp.
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