Some workers just accept back pain as part of the job. Maybe they just think that they’re getting older, so they’re going to experience some pain and discomfort.
But what these workers may not realize is that they may deserve workers’ comp benefits if they are suffering back pain due to their job. Maybe a worker was directly injured in the course of their employment, or maybe they can connect the back pain that they’re feeling to their working conditions. Below are three different ways that workers may suffer back injuries.
Sitting at a desk
For many office workers, the biggest risk is just sitting at a desk for long hours. This is especially true when workers do not have ergonomic chairs, desks or computer systems. Months or years of this activity can take a cumulative toll.
Repetitive motion
Similarly, workers who have to make the same motion over and over again may be more likely to suffer back pain. An example of this could be a worker on an assembly line who has to bend over, pick up an item, and then set it down in another location. Doing it once won’t cause them pain, but it can when they do it thousands of times in a row.
Heavy lifting
Finally, workers are sometimes injured when they lift heavy items inappropriately. This could be because a worker is instructed to lift something on their own that should actually take two employees. It can also happen if the worker bends and lifts with their back, rather than lifting with their legs.
Back pain can be debilitating and can have a significant impact on someone’s quality of life. Workers who have been hurt on the job need to know how to seek workers’ comp benefits.