When people imagine workplace injuries, they often think of stereotypically dangerous jobs, such as construction or professional driving. They may not think of retail workers, office workers or hospital staff.
However, people who work in any kind of environment are still at risk of injury. Some risks vary from profession to profession, while others remain constant across most every work environment.
There is always the potential for violence in the workplace, as well as equipment issues that lead to injury. Beyond that, there is the damage that your body accumulates over time from doing the same chores or tasks at work. No matter what kind of job you have, it is possible to develop a repetitive motion injury that impacts your ability to continue doing the job you currently have.
Doing the same task all day is an injury risk
Even the most benign tasks put pressure on your joints, musculature and bones. Jobs that you may not think of as taxing, such as data entry, can result in repetitive strain injuries if you perform them enough times.
Office workers, factory workers and career drivers often find themselves dealing with cumulative injuries that result from performing the same duty over many years. These injuries, called repetitive motion injuries, are often painful and debilitating. Left untreated, they will only get worse with time.
Repetitive motion injuries typically require a combination of rest and physical therapy to correct the pain symptoms you experience and reduce the risk of re-injury. Thankfully, you have the legal right to seek workers’ compensation if the injury is the result of tasks you perform at work.
Workers’ compensation covers medical costs and lost wages
There are many expenses that come with a repetitive motion injury. One of the most significant is the requirement to rest the injured body part. That often means you can’t perform the same tasks at work, often for several weeks or even months. If your employer doesn’t have other positions they can move you into, you may end up requiring temporary disability coverage to offset your lost wages.
Thankfully, workers’ compensation will cover temporary disability. You can receive a portion of your missed wages for as long as you medically qualify. Additionally, workers’ compensation will provide you with 100 percent health coverage, unlike private insurance. There is no deductible, co-pay or co-insurance to worry about.
If you believe you have developed a repetitive motion injury as a result of your job, you should advise your employer and seek medical care. From there, you can initiate the process of connecting with workers’ compensation benefits.