THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

Wayne Dawsey,        Appellant,

v.

New South, Inc.,        Respondent.

Appeal From Horry County
John L. Breeden, Jr., Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2003-UP-638
Submitted October 6, 2003 – Filed October 30, 2003

AFFIRMED

George Hunter McMaster, of Columbia, for Appellant

Arthur E. Justice, Jr., of Florence, for Respondent.

Per Curiam: Wayne Dawsey appeals from the trial court’s order dismissing his action against New South, Inc., in which the court held Dawsey’s exclusive remedy falls under the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, § 42-1-10, et seq. (1985 & Supp. 2002) (the Act).  We affirm.

FACTS

Dawsey was employed as a supervisor in New South’s wood treatment plant.  New South treats wood to make it resistant to insects, microorganisms and fungal decay by pressure forcing chemicals into the cells of the wood.  The primary chemical used in this process is chromated copper aresenate (CCA). 

Dawsey has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which he contends was caused or enhanced by exposure to CCA.  He brought this action, which he labeled a “toxic tort,” in circuit court.  He alleged that although New South was aware of the health hazards posed by exposure to CCA, it concealed these hazards from its employees, disseminated false information to Dawsey, and exposed him to CCA while assuring him that the chemical was safe and the procedures New South adopted were safe. 

Subsequent to filing its answer, New South moved for dismissal, asserting Dawsey was barred from filing suit against his employer because his exclusive remedy fell under the Act.  The trial court granted New South’s motion to dismiss.  Dawsey appeals. 

LAW/ANALYSIS

Dawsey contends the trial court erred as a matter of law by concluding his exclusive remedy was under the Act.  We disagree.

The exclusivity provision of the Act provides:

The rights and remedies granted by this Title to an employee when he and his employer have accepted the provisions of this Title, respectively, to pay and accept compensation on account of personal injury or death by accident, shall exclude all other rights and remedies of such employee, his personal representative, parents, dependents or next of kin as against his employer, at common law or otherwise, on account of such injury, loss of service or death. . . .

S.C. Code Ann. § 42-1-540 (1985).

Thus, a worker who falls under the Act is prohibited from seeking a common law remedy for work related injuries in a tort action.  This exclusivity provision fulfills the purpose of the Act, which is to relieve workers of the uncertainties of a trial by providing sure, swift recovery for workplace injuries regardless of fault.  Peay v. U.S. Silica Co., 313 S.C. 91, 94, 437 S.E.2d 64, 65 (1993).  To give effect to this legislative intent, the Act is construed liberally in favor of coverage.  Id.  Any exception to workers’ compensation coverage must be narrowly construed.  Id. 

As one exception, a common law cause of action is not barred by the Act if the employer acted with a deliberate or specific intent to injure the employee.  Peay, 313 S.C. at 93; 437 S.E.2d at 65.  Dawsey asserts his action falls within this exception because New South knew of the dangers inherent in exposing its workers to CCA but failed to take appropriate protective measures to protect its employees from CCA exposure.  He contends New South’s deliberate disregard for safety conditions constitutes an intentional tort against him.  In Peay, our supreme court specifically rejected a broad interpretation of “intent” and declined to follow the North Carolina Supreme Court’s adoption of the “substantial certainty standard” as set forth in Woodson v. Rowland, 407 S.E.2d 222 (N.C. 1991). [1]   Peay, 313 S.C. at 94, 437 S.E.2d at 66.  Narrowly construing the intentional act exception, our supreme court held “that only those injuries inflicted by an employer who acts with a deliberate or specific intent to injure are exempted from the exclusive remedy of workers’ compensation coverage.”  Peay, 313 S.C. at 94, 437 S.E.2d at 65-66.  

Thus, in order to bring a tort action, Dawsey must not simply show New South was deliberate in its disregard for its employee’s safety, but must demonstrate that New South intended to injure him.  We find no evidence in the record of such an intent. 

Relying on Smith v. Smith, 194 S.C. 247, 9 S.E.2d 584 (1940), Dawsey’s advances the theory in his reply brief that fraudulent concealment of exposure to toxic materials constitutes a battery.  We find Dawsey’s reliance on this case misplaced.  In Smith, the court held the intentional administering of poison to a person with intent to inflict injury is the tort of battery.  In the present case, Dawsey has failed to show that New South not only exposed him to a dangerous substance but actually intended to injure him in doing so or at least knew with substantial certainty that his injury would result. 

As Dawsey’s injuries were allegedly incurred as an employee of New South and do not fall within the intent exception of the Act, the trial court properly held Dawsey’s exclusive remedy falls under the Act. [2]  

AFFIRMED.

GOOLSBY, HUFF, and BEATTY, JJ., concur.