Cell phone safety joins growing list of employer liability concerns.

Your sales star may have a knack for negotiating deals on a cell phone while driving down the interstate, but think about the liability if the discussions end in a wreck.

Many companies are encouraging employees to use cellular phones to make business and sales calls, bringing new dimensions to on-the-job safety and the definition of the workplace.

"Since the introduction of modern technology enables employees to work outside the office building, the definition of what constitutes work and the standard workplace is changing," says human resources consultant Elizabeth Leng. "For instance, if the employee is talking to a client from their car or their home, the definition of a workplace changes, increasing the employer's liability."

A recent court settlement by a Pennsylvania company for a fatal cell phone-related accident motivated Leng to advise her South Florida business clients to develop policies for employee cell phone use.

As an HR consultant, Leng's job is to inform and educate her clients about potential risks in the workplace. …