Workers’ Compensation for Repetitive Lifting Injuries in Pennsylvania
December 19, 2015
Injuries to the back, shoulder and neck from lifting objects can occur from the sudden trauma of lifting something too heavy in the wrong way, or from the repetitive action of picking up and lifting heavy objects day after day. The repetitive lifting of heavy objects can cause stress and strain to the muscles and connective tissues in the body over the course of time. After a while, the worker might try to lift an object that he or she has lifted a hundred times and wince in pain because an injury has occurred.Injuries from repetitive lifting
Back injuries are one of the most common workplace injuries and they can encompass some of the following types of injuries:
- Bulging discs
- Slipped discs
- Spinal cord injury
- Lower back strain
- Fractured vertebrae
- Pinched nerves
Many back injuries that occur in the workplace are overuse injuries that involve twisting the spine repeatedly to hoist or pull heavy objects. When a worker injures their back it can take weeks or months of rest in order to allow the back to completely heal.
Lifting injuries in healthcare occupations
Back injuries from overexertion in the healthcare industry are quite common. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the rate of overexertion injuries across all industries was 38 per 10,000 full-time workers. The overexertion rate for hospital workers, by contrast, was twice the average at 76 per 10,000, and the rate for nursing home workers was fully three times the national average at 132 per 10,0000. The reason for this is because hospital workers must lift, move and re-position patients manually.
When you suffer a serious injury at work from repetitive lifting you must report the injury to your employer right away so that you can file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses and portion of your lost wages for the time you miss work recuperating from your injury.
After you have reported the injury to your employer, you will visit a company-approved doctor who will evaluate your injury and refer you to specialists if that is required.
If your employer tries to deny your claim, or if you have any other dispute with regard to your workers’ compensation claim, consider meeting with a knowledgeable Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyer from Larry Pitt & Associates. Put our years of experience to work on your behalf. We have offices serving clients throughout Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.
