Sec. 2. In any action prosecuted under the provisions of this chapter the burden of proving that such injured or killed employee did not use due care and diligence at the time of such injury or death shall be upon the defendant, but the same may be proved under the general denial. No such employee who may have been injured or killed shall be held to have been guilty of negligence or contributory negligence by reason of the assumption of the risk thereof in any case where the violation by the employer or his, its, or their agents or employees of any ordinance or statute enacted, or of any rule, regulation, or direction made by any public officer, bureau, or commission, was the cause of the injury or death of such employee. In actions brought against any employer under the provisions of this chapter for the injury or death of any employee, it shall not be a defense that the dangers or hazards inherent or apparent in the employment in which such injured employee was engaged contributed to such injury. No such injured employee shall be held to have been guilty of negligence or contributory negligence where the injury complained of resulted from such employee’s obedience or conformity to any order or direction of the employer or of any employee to whose orders or directions he was under obligation to conform or obey, although such order or direction was a deviation from other rules, orders, or directions previously made by such employer.

Formerly: Acts 1911, c.88, s.2. As amended by P.L.144-1986, SEC.77.