Which action can potentially lead to an employer's liability in workers' compensation cases?

Neglecting to provide safety training can lead to an employer's liability in workers' compensation cases because it demonstrates a failure to uphold the duty of care that employers owe to their employees. Employers are required to ensure a safe working environment, which includes providing proper training on safety protocols and procedures. When safety training is lacking, employees may not be equipped to perform their tasks safely, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace. If an employee gets injured due to inadequate safety training, the employer could be held responsible for this oversight, potentially resulting in financial and legal repercussions.

The other choices involve employee behavior that, while potentially risky, do not directly implicate the employer's responsibility in the same way. Mistakes made by employees or their refusal to wear safety equipment can often be seen as personal accountability, as they involve decisions made by the employee after training and safety instructions have been provided. Unauthorized breaks relate more to workplace conduct than to the safety training failures that directly impact employee safety and welfare.