What is the Last Injurious Exposure Rule (LIER) used for in occupational disease claims?

The Last Injurious Exposure Rule (LIER) is a legal principle used in occupational disease claims to determine which employer is responsible for the worker’s disability when multiple exposures to harmful conditions occur over time. Essentially, the rule holds that the last employer who exposed the worker to the injurious conditions is usually liable for benefits.

This principle is vital for ensuring that workers who may develop occupational diseases as a result of cumulative exposures have a clear path to benefits. It simplifies the process of determining responsibility by focusing on the most recent, and thus often the most relevant, exposure that led to the onset of the employee's condition. As a result, it helps in assigning presumptive responsibility, allowing the injured party to seek compensation from the employer most recently associated with the harmful exposure.

In contrast, the other options do not relate directly to the core purposes of LIER. Determining the last medical treatment pertains to healthcare management rather than employer responsibility, identifying prescriptive authority deals with who can prescribe treatment rather than liability for workplace conditions, and calculating compensation levels is more about the assessment of benefits rather than determining which employer is responsible for the occupational disease.