Workers in nearly every field and occupation have some risk of suffering work-related injuries or deaths. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 78 workers died on the job in New York City in 2014 alone, and many more suffered occupational injuries. While bumps, bruises and broken bones are all common on the job injuries, many people also develop repetitive motion injuries on the job.
In general, repetitive motion injuries, or repetitive stress injuries, are a type of tissue injury. They commonly develop due to repeated motions, such as using a scanner, typing, lifting items or operating a jackhammer, which workers may perform as a part of their regular job duties. There are a number of conditions, which may be categorized as repetitive motion injuries. The most common of these are tendonitis and bursitis.
When people suffer repetitive motion injuries on the job, they may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board points out that this may include coverage for medical care, such as surgery, hospital care, prescribed medications, laboratory testing and prosthetic devices, among other treatments. Additionally, workers may also be eligible to receive wage replacement, or cash, benefits. In such situations, people who are permanently or temporarily disabled may receive partial compensation for their lost wages.
Unlike those injuries, which are attributable to a specific accident or incident, it can be difficult for some people to prove that their repetitive stress injuries are work-related. In order to help ensure workers receive the benefits that they are entitled to for such injuries, it may be helpful for them to document their symptoms, as well as their job duties. Furthermore, they may consider obtaining legal representation to help guide them through the workers’ compensation claims process.