Warehouse work is rewarding but also physically demanding. The physicality of this type of job also means that workers face an increased risk of injuries. Accidents can happen within the warehouse that can seriously injure workers. One common injury is back injuries.
Back injuries affect not only employees’ health and well-being but also their ability to perform work effectively. These often debilitating injuries can result from many different causes, but some of the most common within the warehouse include:
- Lifting heavy items improperly
- Repetitive motion tasks
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Being struck by moving or falling objects
Each of these activities can strain the back muscles and the spine, leading to acute or chronic pain and disability. A more serious accident could result in damage to the spinal cord.
How expensive is it to treat a back injury?
Medical expenses for treatment will vary depending on the extent of the injury. Serious cases may require surgical intervention, which can quickly result in tens of thousands of dollars or more in treatment costs. This could also result in a need for long-term treatments such as physical therapy, medication, and subsequent surgeries.
In addition to direct medical costs, back injuries often lead to lost wages due to time off work and decreased productivity.
Do I qualify for workers’ compensation?
Workers’ compensation laws generally cover injuries that occur as a direct result of employment activities. For a back injury to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, the injury must meet certain criteria. These include the injury occurring during the course of employment activities and being promptly reported to the employer.
It is important for employees to follow the proper reporting and medical evaluation processes to help better ensure their eligibility for benefits.