Lifting Injuries Are Common Across Many Occupations. If You Suffered a Heavy Lifting Injury on the Job in NJ, Find Out How to Seek Compensation for Your Injuries
When many of us think of workplace injuries, we tend to picture construction sites and fluke or unfortunate mishaps. However, the reality is that many jobs and work environments are filled with day-to-day tasks that necessitate physical effort. One such feat is lifting; whether it’s stacks of files or bags of cement, the potential for injury is real. Unfortunately, employees can and do get hurt for many reasons and circumstances. Lifting injuries are not just painful; they can create serious challenges for workers in the present and future, affecting your health, productivity, personal life, and overall well-being. It’s vital to grasp the gravity of these damages, as they can lead to long-term health problems– even disability. The text below touches on the many facets of work-related lifting injuries, including their prevalence, common types, legal responsibilities of employers, safety measures for injury prevention, the importance of training, and the role of worker’s compensation in supporting injured employees in New Jersey.
The Physical Demands of High-Risk Lifting Jobs
Particular careers maintain an elevated risk of lifting injuries due to the nature of their profession. The role you serve at work may entail regular lifting and moving of heavy weights, which amplifies your chance of lifting-related injuries–along with other factors, which we will also touch on. Focusing on the professions that frequently fall at risk of heavy lifting injuries, including different types of workers.
Lifting injuries affect workers in a variety of roles. From nurses and construction workers to warehouse personnel, movers, office workers, and restaurant staff, anyone who lifts heavy objects or patients as part of their job is at risk. These injuries can vary from strains and sprains to more intense conditions: herniated discs, chronic neck or lower back issues, and nerve damage.
Healthcare Professionals
Individuals working in the medical field are invariably asked to lift and transfer patients from beds to gurneys, wheelchairs, examination tables, or to and from restrooms. These professional duties demand physical stamina and require proper lifting techniques if you want to avoid strains, damaging your joints, getting sprains, and other forms of harm to your musculoskeletal system. The unpredictable conditions that come with lifting and moving patients also add to the over-physical undertaking of the task, increasing the risk of accidents. For instance, if you are a paramedic, you have likely encountered an irate patient whose sudden movements can pose an additional hazard if you are trying to lift and relocate them. Many other professions are exposed to daily weight-lifting burdens.
Construction Workers
Construction workers are in an industry that frequently handles heavy building materials, such as concrete blocks, steel beams, gravel, pavers, and lumber. Chores like lifting, carrying, and stacking the materials can strain the back, shoulder, and joints, leading to injuries primarily when appropriate lifting techniques are not taught or heeded. Additionally, working in dynamic environments with uneven terrain or exaggerated heights exacerbates the risk of injuries and tragic misfortunes.
Warehouse, Delivery, and Factory Jobs
Warehouse personnel are responsible for loading and unloading bulky and heavy items. Workers are often expected to lug these weighty items utilizing manual labor or working with special material handling equipment, like forklifts and pallet jacks. Hauling overloaded crates, heavy boxes, or solid machinery can come at the cost of distressing back injuries, especially when lifting objects over your shoulders or in awkward positions. Movers and delivery drivers often pick up and carry items in tight spaces, on staircases, and loading docks, requiring coordination, control, and power. When proper precautions are impossible or skipped, the threat of injury is aggravated. Manufacturing and factory employees often stack, lift, and assemble items, pushing their muscles and joints to the brink. The outcome could be repetitive stress injuries or acute trauma.
Retail Workers
When considering retail work, one may imagine a day filled with tagging items, helping answer customer questions, and working a register. However, retail workers constantly encounter lifting hazards on the job, and injury risks can increase even more during busy periods or when restocking heavy items. A manager may direct an employee to assist a customer with loading a large item into their vehicle, and a split-second loss of balance, a misstep, or a muscle spasm can result in a severe injury. Training and ergonomic practices are crucial in these retail environments. Each occupation or trade presents distinct challenges and risks associated with lifting and moving heavy objects. By recognizing these dangers and implementing appropriate safety measures, employers can design safer working environments and reduce the probability of these heavy-lifting injuries occurring in the first place.
Employer Duties in Preventing Lifting Injuries
In New Jersey, employers are legally obligated to provide safe conditions for their employees, including implementing efforts and actions toward preventing these types of injuries. Their responsibility is outlined in state and federal statutes like the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the Worker’s Compensation Act. Employers should execute sweeping risk assessments to pinpoint possible hazards related to lifting and manual handling tasks. Once realized, your boss is required to implement appropriate controls and safety measures to minimize risk and, when necessary, modifications.
Employers can start by providing relevant and sufficient training about techniques for lifting, ensuring the availability of mechanical lifting aids and equipment, maintaining ergonomic workstations, and enforcing safety measures. One major cause of workplace accidents is the lack of inspections and maintenance of facilities and equipment, which can result from oversight or when employers intentionally try to cut corners and expenses. Failing or neglecting to satisfy these obligations can spell out legal consequences, including sharp fines, penalties, and potential liability for workplace injuries.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for NJ Workers with Heavy Lifting Injuries
Recompense in the form of Workers’ Compensation in New Jersey, offering financial assistance and medical care, is crucial for employees who have suffered an injury in the line of their work. Benefits can cover expenses that include medical treatments, physical therapy, and even vocational rehabilitation to help workers get back on their feet after recovering from an injury. Workers’ compensation provides for lost wages if an injury turns into temporary or permanent disability, allowing employees and their families to be supported during recovery. The system benefits injured workers and employers by supplying a structured framework for handling workplace injuries, lessening the odds of costly lawsuits.
Contact New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Cohen & Riechelson for Assistance with a Heavy Lifting Work Injury Case
Having a lawyer by your side following a workplace lifting-related injury is an advantage from the get-go. Workplace injury claims can be daunting, especially considering dealing with the legal procedures and insurance companies when you are still in pain or trying to recover. Our attorneys at Cohen & Riechelson frequently handle workplace injury cases, and we can serve as major assets during these processes. We will comb through the details of your case, providing tailored legal advice and gathering evidence, like medical records and witness testimony, all to support your claim and uphold your rights.
It is also important to remember that negotiations can arise between you and the insurance company, and an attorney on our team can serve as a skilled negotiator. Workers’ comp claims are involved, and the most minor mistakes can cost you. If you want to make informed decisions and take an empowered stance and approach, contact an experienced New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney at (609) 528-2596 for a confidential and free consultation. We can review your workplace lifting injury case in Princeton, Hamilton, Trenton, Ewing, Lambertville, Robbinsville, East Windsor, Lawrence, and other towns in Mercer County and around New Jersey.
