People can get hurt on the clock for many different reasons. Equipment malfunctions can cause major injuries. Chemical exposure can put people in the hospital. Other work-related health challenges develop slowly. Professionals in a broad range of careers are at risk of developing repetitive strain injuries.
These injuries are the result of regularly performing the same tasks. Typing at a desk for eight hours a day, gripping a tool on a production line or constantly lifting while restocking in a grocery store can all cause cumulative trauma. Workers don’t sustain a major injury, but they slowly develop pain and functional limitations.
Many professionals, especially those in the service and manufacturing sectors, may try to work through the pain of a repetitive strain injury. Doing so might eventually leave them unable to work at all.
Repetitive strain injuries progress over time
Unlike traumatic injuries that may occur all at once because of a specific incident, cumulative trauma develops slowly. It may continue to worsen for as long as the professional continues to perform the same functions.
While people can treat their symptoms using over-the-counter pain relievers and limiting their activities after work, their symptoms are likely to continue worsening as time passes. They may eventually have such debilitating pain that they cannot perform key job functions or cannot meet performance metrics. They could be at risk of losing their jobs in that scenario.
How workers’ compensation helps
When employees develop repetitive strain injuries, they need to see medical professionals. A physician can diagnose a repetitive strain injury. They can recommend certain accommodations that allow the worker to perform their job safely. They can also recommend rest and specific treatment protocols so that the employee’s condition improves instead of slowly worsening.
Once the employee initiates a workers’ compensation claim, they don’t have to worry about covering treatment costs themselves. They can also take time away from work to recover. Disability benefits can be critical for those trying to address a repetitive strain injury.
They can also ask their employer for accommodation, including assistive technology or a change to job functions. With the right treatment plan, workers can reduce the symptoms of their repetitive strain injuries and retain their employment.
Connecting cumulative trauma to job functions is often the first step toward pursuing workers’ compensation benefits. Recognizing that working through the pain could do more harm than good may motivate workers to take control of a situation that could put their future employment at risk.
