Some people get hurt at work because something goes wrong. They make timing mistakes or have an issue with a piece of equipment. They slip on a wet section of the floor or encounter an aggressive, violent customer. The cause of the worker’s injuries directly relates to their employment.
Employees with traumatic injuries often understand that they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, not every worker dealing with injuries related to their work gets hurt in a specific incident. For many professionals, cumulative trauma generated through repetitive stress may result in a repetitive strain injury.
Can workers diagnosed with repetitive strain injuries apply for workers’ compensation benefits?
Repetitive job functions can cause injury
The connection between repetitive job functions and functional limitations is well known. Professionals working in physically demanding blue-collar professions can easily damage their bodies by lifting, twisting and gripping for hours on end every day.
Workers in any profession can potentially develop repetitive strain injuries from job responsibilities. Prep cooks chopping vegetables and office workers typing at computers all day may also develop repetitive strain injuries. The longer someone performs the same job tasks each day and the longer they hold the same position, the higher their risk of developing a repetitive strain injury.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the best-known repetitive strain injuries. People can also develop debilitating pain in their knees, hips, spines and shoulders from performing repetitive work. Generally speaking, any medical condition directly related to employment can be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage.
Employees may need to speak with their doctors about the repetitive job functions they perform and how those functions might contribute to the injury. Medical documentation can be an important element of a workers’ compensation claim.
In theory, employees with repetitive strain injuries can seek medical benefits for their treatment. They may also be eligible for disability benefits to cover their lost wages if they must take time off to heal. In scenarios where workers have to transfer to different jobs because of their injuries, they may be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits.
Pursuing workers’ compensation benefits for repetitive strain injuries can be a difficult task. Employees may need support as they learn about their rights and navigate the benefits system. With the right assistance, many employees can secure workers’ compensation benefits for repetitive strain injuries.
