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Unfortunately, injuries can happen on the job no matter where you work. While some of them may be minor, many more are severe and can require medical care and cause you to miss time from work.
Workers’ compensation can help cover the costs of these treatments and assist with lost wages. When it comes time to apply for benefits, there is one requirement: these injuries must have been related to your job duties.
Let’s take a look at the most common injuries covered by workers’ compensation.
On-the-Job Injuries Employees Suffer
Workplace injuries and accidents are not uncommon. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over 2,804,200 workers were injured or fell ill on the job in 2022. While performing work-related duties, employees can suffer a wide range of injuries. Some of the most common types of injuries covered under workers’ compensation include:
Back Injuries
Back injuries in the workplace are common. According to the University of Maryland, over one million workers suffer from back injuries each year in the United States. It is estimated that one in five work-related injuries involves issues with the back.
Many times, the physical demands of the job put the back area at risk. Awkward postures, sudden task disruptions, fatigue, heavy lifting, outdoor work, hand movements, and frequent bending and twisting contribute to an increased risk of experiencing back pain. Also, operating motor vehicles and heavy lifting are commonly associated with back injuries.
Certain occupations seem to be more susceptible to back injuries than others. For example, nursing assistants, laborers, and hand material movers experienced a high number of back-related musculoskeletal disorder cases in 2016, also per BLS data. In fact, these occupations accounted for 15.6% of all back-related cases.
While some of these workers can recover and return to their job duties, sometimes, back injuries can lead to permanent total disability.
Chronic Pain
Performing physical tasks can lead to a worker developing chronic pain over the course of their work career. Back injuries can lead to persistent pain, but other injuries can also affect the worker’s daily life and work activities.
This type of pain can last for weeks or years, making it difficult for workers to perform their job duties. Headaches, backaches, respiratory issues, and arthritis are all chronic pain symptoms.
They are most associated with certain industries, such as manual labor, food service, and retail. However, chronic pain can even afflict those in office environments and other workplaces with workers who sit, stand, or live for a prolonged amount of time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 20.5% and 21.8% of workers experience chronic pain, with 6.9% having high-impact chronic pain. While treatment options are available, many workers may not be able to continue with their line of work. When work-related activities lead to chronic pain, the employee could be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Motor Vehicle Accidents on the Job
If your operation of a motor vehicle leads to you suffering injuries, workers’ compensation benefits are available. Like any type of car or vehicle accident, these incidents can lead to a wide range of injuries, such as:
- Whiplash
- Fractures
- Head & brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
These injuries can range from minor to life-threatening. Many times, the impacted individual will recover, but other times, they could be left with disabling, life-altering impairments.
Workers employed in certain industries, including transportation and warehousing, emergency and law enforcement services, oil and gas extraction, and construction, are at high risk for work-related motor vehicle crashes.
Truck drivers, paramedics, and construction vehicle operators face increased risks when operating motor vehicles as part of their job responsibilities. From 2011 to 2022, over 21,000 U.S. workers died in these types of crashes, accounting for 35% of all work-related deaths, per the CDC.
Car accidents during work-related activities can lead to workers’ compensation claims, whether the workers have been injured or lost their lives on the job. However, there are a few caveats to understand. For example, commuting to or from work is often not covered. But if you needed to use your car to pick up supplies or run some errands for your job, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured in a motor vehicle crash while working.
Occupational Illness
Work-related illnesses are medical conditions directly linked to a person’s job or work environment. They can result from a variety of factors encountered in the workplace, such as exposure to hazardous substances, poor air quality, unsanitary conditions, and other occupational hazards. According to the National Safety Council, exposure to harmful substances or environments accounted for 28% of injuries or illnesses between 2021 and 2022.
These illnesses are often caused by biological, chemical, physical, and psychological elements in the work environment. Cancer, asthma, and asbestos are just a few illnesses that can be the result of working in these poor environmental conditions.
Over the years, many industries have been in the spotlight for their poor practices that lead to workers’ illnesses and even deaths. Those workers in manufacturing, agriculture, construction, and health care are often exposed to hazards. If they become ill, they may be able to collect on workers’ compensation benefits.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
While you might believe that many work-related injuries occur in an industry involving extensive physical labor, that is not always the case. Office workers and others in the corporate world can also suffer from job-related injuries from repetitive stress.
Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) impact those who perform repetitive motions or activities over time. One of the leading causes of RSIs is repetitive movements, such as typing on a computer, playing musical instruments, or performing assembly line tasks. Additionally, sitting or standing for an extended period of time can contribute to the development of RSIs.
RSIs often involve localized pain, swelling, tingling and numbness, stiffness, weakness, and temperature sensitivity. They usually affect the wrist, fingers, and elbows. CDC data suggests that these injuries can lead to conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and tendonitis. That same research reveals that, of those affected, almost 44% had to limit their activities for at least one day. While the outlook is good when treated, some individuals could develop chronic issues that may limit their ability to perform their jobs.
Workplace Violence
Unfortunately, workplace violence can happen at any time. BLS data shows that 37,060 workers were injured, with 392 homicides in the workplace in 2022. These actions can include physical assaults, robberies, or mass shootings.
Often, workers are seriously injured, suffering from broken bones, lacerations, head and spinal injuries, and even death. While those working in public transportation, community services, or law enforcement have a higher risk of injury, anyone could be a victim of these incidents.
Workers’ Compensation Gives You Options
For those who have been injured or lost a family member, workers’ compensation can help assist with medical costs, lost wages, and even funeral and burial expenses. However, if the worker initiated the physical conduct, they could be excluded from receiving these benefits.
While these are just a few examples, most injuries that stem from your work activities could be covered under workers’ compensation. Your state’s workers’ compensation agency or an attorney who regularly handles workplace injury or occupational disease cases like these will be able to provide you with more details for your specific case.