What is the key determining factor for a cumulative injury's Date of Injury (DOI)?

The key determining factor for a cumulative injury's Date of Injury (DOI) is the date the first disability occurred and was related to the job. In cases of cumulative injuries, which develop over time due to ongoing exposure to harmful conditions or repetitive activities, the DOI is established based on when the employee first experiences a disability that is linked to their work activities. This can often be challenging to pinpoint and may require a thorough understanding of the employee's medical history and the nature of their job.

Selecting this date is crucial as it affects the eligibility for workers' compensation benefits and can impact the legal proceedings that may arise from the injury. It effectively ties the employee's condition to their work environment, demonstrating the causal relationship necessary for compensation claims.

Other options, such as the date the employer was notified or the exact date of the employee's last day worked, do not accurately represent the critical moment of injury linked to the cumulative effects of their job. Additionally, the date on which the incident or exposure occurred might not apply directly to cumulative injuries where the effects accumulate over a lengthy period rather than arising from a single event.