Utah Code » Title 34A, Chapter 3 — Utah Occupational Disease Act; part 34A-3-1 — Utah Occupational Disease Act
Utah Code

Utah Code § 34A-3-106 (2026)

Mental stress claims

✓ current as of May 2026
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Physical, mental, or emotional diseases related to mental stress arising out of and in the course of employment shall be compensable under this chapter only when there is a sufficient legal and medical causal connection between the employee's disease and employment.
Legal causation requires proof of extraordinary mental stress arising predominantly and directly from employment.
The extraordinary nature of the alleged mental stress is judged according to an objective standard in comparison with contemporary national employment and nonemployment life.
Medical causation requires proof that the physical, mental, or emotional disease was medically caused by the mental stress that is the legal cause of the physical, mental, or emotional disease.
Good faith employer personnel actions including disciplinary actions, work evaluations, job transfers, layoffs, demotions, promotions, terminations, or retirements, may not form the basis of compensable mental stress claims under this chapter.
Alleged discrimination, harassment, or unfair labor practices otherwise actionable at law may not form the basis of compensable mental stress claims under this chapter.
An employee who alleges a compensable occupational disease involving mental stress bears the burden of proof to establish legal and medical causation by a preponderance of the evidence.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 2005–2017 · leading case: E. Utah Broad. & Workers' Comp. Fund v. Labor Comm'n, 2007 UT App 99 (Utah Ct. App. 2007).
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E. Utah Broad. & Workers' Comp. Fund v. Labor Comm'n, 2007 UT App 99 (Utah Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 28× “See Utah Code Ann. § 34A-3-106 (2001). Because we conclude that the Appeals Board incorrectly applied the standard for determining whether Wood's mental condition was legally caused by her employment, we remand for further proceedings consistent with this decision.”
Wood v. Labor Comm'n, 2005 UT App 490 (Utah Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 22× “CONCLUSION 114 Under Utah Code section 34A-8-106(2)(b), the extraordinary nature of the stress of Petitioner's employment must be judged according to an objective standard in comparison with contemporary national employment and nonemployment life, see Utah Code Ann. §…”
Rueda v. Utah Labor Comm'n, 2017 UT 58 (Utah 2017). · cites it 3× “Utah Code § 34A-3-106(1) (emphasis added).”
Washington Cnty. Sch. Dist. v. Labor Comm'n, 2013 UT App 205 (Utah Ct. App. 2013). “With respect to "[plhysical, mental, or emotional diseases related to mental stress arising out of and in the course of employment," the Utah Occupational Disease Act expressly limits legal causation to instances in which "extraordinary mental stress arisles] predominantly and…”
— Utah Code § 34A-3-106(1) — 4 cases
Rueda v. Utah Labor Comm'n, 2017 UT 58 (Utah 2017). “Utah Code § 34A-3-106(1) (emphasis added).”
E. Utah Broad. & Workers' Comp. Fund v. Labor Comm'n, 2007 UT App 99 (Utah Ct. App. 2007). “See Utah Code Ann. § 34A-3-106 (2001). Because we conclude that the Appeals Board incorrectly applied the standard for determining whether Wood's mental condition was legally caused by her employment, we remand for further proceedings consistent with this decision.”
Wood v. Labor Comm'n, 2005 UT App 490 (Utah Ct. App. 2005). “CONCLUSION 114 Under Utah Code section 34A-8-106(2)(b), the extraordinary nature of the stress of Petitioner's employment must be judged according to an objective standard in comparison with contemporary national employment and nonemployment life, see Utah Code Ann. §…”
Washington Cnty. Sch. Dist. v. Labor Comm'n, 2013 UT App 205 (Utah Ct. App. 2013). “With respect to "[plhysical, mental, or emotional diseases related to mental stress arising out of and in the course of employment," the Utah Occupational Disease Act expressly limits legal causation to instances in which "extraordinary mental stress arisles] predominantly and…”
— Utah Code § 34A-3-106(2) — 1 case
Wood v. Labor Comm'n, 2005 UT App 490 (Utah Ct. App. 2005). “CONCLUSION 114 Under Utah Code section 34A-8-106(2)(b), the extraordinary nature of the stress of Petitioner's employment must be judged according to an objective standard in comparison with contemporary national employment and nonemployment life, see Utah Code Ann. §…”
— Utah Code § 34A-3-106(2)(a) — 1 case
E. Utah Broad. & Workers' Comp. Fund v. Labor Comm'n, 2007 UT App 99 (Utah Ct. App. 2007). “See Utah Code Ann. § 34A-3-106 (2001). Because we conclude that the Appeals Board incorrectly applied the standard for determining whether Wood's mental condition was legally caused by her employment, we remand for further proceedings consistent with this decision.”
— Utah Code § 34A-3-106(2)(b) — 1 case
Wood v. Labor Comm'n, 2005 UT App 490 (Utah Ct. App. 2005). “CONCLUSION 114 Under Utah Code section 34A-8-106(2)(b), the extraordinary nature of the stress of Petitioner's employment must be judged according to an objective standard in comparison with contemporary national employment and nonemployment life, see Utah Code Ann. §…”
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