Which of the following is an indirect cost of a workplace injury?

• A. Wages paid to injured workers for absences not covered by Worker's Compensation
• B. Direct medical expenses for treatment
• C. Insurance premiums
• D. Property replacement costs

Answer: (A)

Indirect costs are the operational ripple effects of a workplace injury that aren’t tied to medical care or replacing damaged property. The wages paid to injured workers for absences not covered by Workers’ Compensation fall into this category because they represent lost productivity and extra payroll costs that aren’t reimbursed by medical treatment or insurance for the injury itself. These costs continue to affect the business even after the injury is handled medically, influencing scheduling, overtime, and overall output.

Direct medical expenses are the actual costs of treatment and rehabilitation, so they are direct costs. Property replacement costs relate to repairing or replacing damaged equipment or facilities, which are also direct costs. Insurance premiums may rise as a result of injuries, but the most clearly indirect example here is the wage costs from time off that aren’t covered by workers’ comp, since that reflects lost work output rather than the treatment or physical damage caused by the injury.