Workers rely on their backs to support their movements throughout the day. However, almost one out of every 10 workers will experience job-related back pain. Back pain can come and go or end up as a permanent problem. In extreme cases, chronic or catastrophic back pain and conditions may end a worker’s career.
Workers’ compensation insurance helps protect workers who have been injured while on the job by paying a percentage of the worker’s missed wages, as well as medical bills. Employers in New Jersey and throughout the United States generally are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for all employees, including those who are full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal.
Workers’ compensation makes getting well less financially stressful for employees who have hurt their backs on the job. But what exactly constitutes a job-related back injury? And why is the back at risk, even in so-called white collar professions in which employees sit at desks?
Why is the Back Prone to Workplace Injury?
The back is a complex part of the body consisting of nerves, vertebrae, disks, and other soft tissues and fluids. All these parts must work together seamlessly. If just one part of the back gets damaged or undergoes trauma, the rest of the back likely will be affected.
One example is a slipped disk. The disks of the back nestle between the 24 vertebrae that can move. Those vertebrae run from the neck to the lower back. If a disk moves out of place, the vertebrae may rub against each other. At the same time, the nerves in the back may become pinched or irritated. This can cause intense or dull pain, a tingly sensation, or numbness. Treatment for a slipped disk may require rest, physical therapy, pain management medicines, and potentially surgery.
Though a slipped disk is a common type of workplace back injury, it is far from being the only one.
Types of Frequently Seen Workplace Back Injuries
In addition to slipped disks, employees often submit workers’ compensation claims for other back injuries:
- Lower back pain: Pain in the lower back may concentrate in one area or radiate throughout the lower back region. Lower back pain may come and go depending on what the worker is doing, or it may be a source of constant discomfort.
- Neck pain: The back extends into the neck. Any worker can fall victim to neck pain. Employees who sit at computers all day may end up feeling neck strain. Neck pain can lead to other problems and conditions, such as recurring headaches and numbness in and around the base of the skull.
- Back sprains and strains: Sprains and strains happen when muscles and ligaments are stretched, torn, or severed. A simple strain may clear up after a couple of weeks of rest, whereas a more complicated strain or severe injury may require months of healing.
- Back fractures: A worker who slips and falls, or who falls from any height, may break one of the bones in the back. This can occur in tandem with breaking other bones, such as ribs or an arm.
- Pinched back nerves: A pinched nerve happens when the nerve receives too much pressure from a surrounding body part, such as a vertebra that has shifted out of place or an inflamed muscle.
- Complete or partial paralysis: In extreme situations, workers who have hurt their backs on the job may be diagnosed with paralysis. The paralysis can be concentrated in one area of the body or may be complete, such as from the waist down. With treatment and time, paralysis patients may regain some or all of their functioning. Paralysis is among the most devastating of all workplace back injuries.
Common Reasons for Back Injuries on the Job
Knowing the variety of back injuries that often lead to workers’ compensation claims is one thing. Understanding why they happen is another.
Below is a list of reasons for most back injuries on the job:
- Improper lifting behavior: Many workers spend their days lifting and moving heavy objects. Even if the objects are not extremely heavy, the constant up-and-down motion can take a toll on the back. Although most workers have heard that they should lift with the legs, plenty of people habitually put stress on their back to support themselves when lifting items.
- Moving too fast: When workers are under pressure to meet aggressive quotas, they may rush through their daily activities. Rushing can cause workers to skip steps or cut corners when it comes to proper lifting and object handling techniques.
- Inadequate equipment and tools: Workers should be able to rely on their employers to provide them with the proper types of equipment and tools to safely get the job done. If a worker is forced to use antiquated tools or ones that are not safe, the worker may be at risk for a back injury. This also applies to employees who sit at desks all day. The wrong chair or desk height can cause back and neck strain.
- Lack of training: When workers undergo onboarding, they should expect to be trained for the job. Even if they have performed their line of work for decades, they should still undergo regular training. A worker who does not know how to lift objects in a safe manner may be more inclined to get hurt.
- Accidents: An on-the-job accident can happen in any workplace. For example, a worker may trip on the stairs or over a cable on the floor. Any accident can create the perfect environment for a permanent or temporary back injury.
Workers who believe that they are at risk of experiencing a back injury on the job can take some steps to lessen their likelihood of requiring medical attention.
How to Reduce the Likelihood of a Job-Related Back Injury
In order to reduce the chances of a back injury, workers may want to take some precautions:
- Attend all training sessions: Workers are expected to attend training sessions and put what they learn into practice. Skipping mandatory trainings may make it harder for an employee to get a workers’ compensation claim for a back injury initially approved.
- Ask for updated equipment: A worker who is using inappropriate or outdated equipment should feel comfortable talking to a supervisor to request a replacement. For example, an administrative assistant who has been using a chair that is not adjustable may ask for a new, ergonomically correct chair.
- Identify tripping hazards: The workplace should be safe above all else. Workers who are concerned for their safety because of slipping, tripping, or falling hazards should speak with their supervisors about mitigating those hazards.
- Pay attention to early warning signs of back injury: Many workers ignore the earliest signs of back injury, which can lead to a longer, more extensive recovery. Employees who have nagging back pain that seems to get worse after being on the job should pay attention to those indicators and get medical attention.
- Make exercise a priority: Exercising and strengthening the back muscles can be a good way to avoid back injury. When combined with proper nutrition, an exercise routine may stave off foreseeable back issues related to weak back muscles and poor posture.
What to Do after Suffering a Back Injury at Work
What should a worker with a job-related back injury do? The most important step is to get attention and advice from a doctor. A doctor can diagnose the injury and make recommendations accordingly. Depending on the results, the worker may need to start treatment immediately.
The worker should also inform a supervisor or human resources representative about the injury right away. The injured employee will need to ask for a workers’ compensation claim as well. The claim must be completed and submitted within the statute of limitations. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims is two years after the injury occurred. However, most workers will want to file sooner.
Not all workers’ compensation claims for back injuries are approved on the first submission. Insurance carriers and employers may deny a worker’s claim for a variety of reasons. At that point, many workers prefer to set up consultations with workers’ compensation lawyers in their states. Workers’ compensation lawyers will review the employee’s case and be able to offer suggestions.
Although lawyers cannot compel insurance carriers and employers to approve workers’ compensation claims that have been denied, they can help workers submit an appeal. If approved, the workers’ compensation benefits will cover part of the workers’ time off work, as well as bills related to treatment.
Burlington County Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP, Help Workers Who Have Experienced On-the-Job Back Pain
If you have been diagnosed with back pain associated with the work you perform, you should be able to collect workers’ compensation benefits to help with the costs of their medical treatments and recovery as well as payments for income lost while you were unable to return to work after the incident. The Burlington County workers’ compensation lawyers at Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP, can help you receive the coverage for which you are entitled. Call us today at 856-761-3773 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we serve clients in Camden, Cinnaminson, Delran, Maple Shade, Pennsauken, and throughout South Jersey.
