Workplace injuries can usually be viewed as single, catastrophic and extreme incidents, such as explosions, fires or life-altering injuries. However, workplace injuries do not always have to result from a sudden, isolated event. Many injuries in the workplace can occur from small and repetitive actions over a period of time that have been performed on a regular basis, also known as repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). These injuries can be harder to spot, but as a Tennessee employee you have the right to recover for them under your employer’s workers’ compensation benefits.
HOW CAN I DEVELOP A REPETITIVE STRESS INJURY?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are hundreds of different types of repetitive stress injuries that result from gradual wear and tear of the body. RSIs are the largest category of workplace injuries, far more than slips and falls or scrapes and cuts. For an RSI to develop, one motion is usually repeated several times a day and over the course of weeks, months or years. This can leave an employee in a huge amount of pain and he or she might be unable to perform their normal job tasks or simple life functions. The most common type of RSI involves an injury to the hands and arms relating to computer activities. Almost any business nowadays requires employees to be on a laptop or desktop for many hours each day, which is why this type of RSI has increased the past few decades. Medical conditions that result from computer-related activities include carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis (swelling of the cushioning between bones) and tendonitis (tears in muscle tissue and bones). Many physical demanding jobs are also at risk for having employees develop an RSI. These jobs include construction, manufacturing and any type of factory or assembly line worker.
Most of the time, if you believe you are developing an RSI, your employer will make proper adjustments for you in order to prevent any further injury. However, if you believe that you have been denied workers’ compensation benefits or rights after developing an RSI, our workers’ compensation attorney will help you through your case. Contact the law office of Stanley A. Davis today for more information.