Lifting Injuries And Workers Compensation

Law Blog

For many jobs that require physical labor; heavy lifting is sometimes included as part of the job's roles and responsibilities. However, equally common for these roles is the risk of a lifting-related injury. Even if the job requires lifting, this practice should be carried out in the safest way to ensure workers are protected. When they are not, workers compensation may be a necessary option for their situation.

Types of Injuries

Lifting-related injuries can come in all sorts of forms. Some of the more common concerns are disc injuries, muscle strains, wrist injuries, and even fractures. For any employee that experiences discomfort due to their lifting on the job, it is always best to visit a healthcare provider.

A healthcare provider will diagnose the injury and connect it to your work performance. This step initiates the treatment process, which is the most important, but it also documents your injuries, which will be necessary should you plan to move forward with a workers compensation claim. 

Lifting and Liability

Again, there are plenty of roles that list lifting as part of the job description, but understand that just because this responsibility is included with the job it does not mean there are no limits. In short, if you sustain a lifting injury while performing a required task, you still have the right to seek workers compensation. 

It is typically only necessary that you perform the lifting task appropriately, such as by wearing the correct safety gear and utilizing safe lifting practices. As long as you do your job, it is the employers' responsibility to do their job and protect you. 

Payments and Compensation

It is helpful to think of workers compensation as an umbrella term because while it represents payments to employees for injuries, all the payments are not the same. For example, some employees can seek partial payments. These payments are designed for employees whose injuries prevent them from working in the same way they did before the injury. 

On the other hand, you also have total payments, which are intended for employees with injuries that prevent them from performing any work. It is also worth noting that for both types of payments, the duration of the compensation can be temporary or permanent.

If you sustained a lifting injury due to your work duties, you have a right to seek compensation. A workers compensation attorney will help point you in the right direction to ensure you are not left alone. 

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6 October 2022