St. Louis residents lead busy, productive lives, but when productivity requires physical labor in the workplace, a lifting injury can disrupt not only your work but all aspects of your life. While lifting injuries are most common in industries such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, an injury can occur in any workplace environment, even in an office; for instance, while moving a copy machine or lifting a stack of printer paper. Lifting injuries are also common in healthcare settings from lifting or moving patients.
When a lifting injury requires medical attention and leaves you unable to return to work, a workers’ compensation claim is a crucial safety net, but a successful claim is not always a straightforward process. A workers’ compensation attorney in St. Louis is a strong ally throughout the claim process.
What Causes Workplace Lifting Injuries In St. Louis?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 36% of missed workdays due to injuries involve back and shoulder lifting injuries. The most common causes of lifting injuries in St. Louis and elsewhere include the following:
- Using improper lifting techniques, such as bending from the waist rather than the legs, lifting with the back, or holding an item too far away from the body while lifting
- Twisting or bending the torso while lifting or carrying a heavy item
- Repetitive motion injuries from jobs involving frequent lifting tasks
- Failing to use mechanical aids, such as dollies or carts, or having inadequate available lifting aids in the workplace
OSHA requires workplaces with lifting requirements to implement proper training procedures, implement ergonomic improvement strategies, and provide adequate mechanical aids. Still, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 86,000 lifting injuries reported in the U.S. in a single recent year.
Common Workplace Lifting Injuries In St. Louis
Most work-related lifting injuries result from a single heavy lift or from repetitive lifting motions. The most common lifting injuries in St. Louis workers’ compensation claims include the following:
- Back injuries, including strains, sprains, herniated discs, lower lumbar injuries, and torn muscles
- Shoulder injuries, such as torn rotator cuffs or shoulder impingement
- Knee injuries, strains, including ligament damage from a torn ACL or MCL, meniscus tears, patellar tendonitis, or IT-band syndrome
- Wrist injuries, such as fractures, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome (from repetitive lifting)
Lifting injuries are painful and cause temporary or permanent disability that interferes with your ability to work.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Lifting Injury
All Missouri employers with five or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. Construction employers must carry workers’ comp even if they have only one employee. A successful claim provides medical care for the injury through a medical provider from the employer’s approved list. It also provides two-thirds of the employee’s income for temporary total disability, or two-thirds of the difference between the employee’s standard pay and light duty pay for temporary partial disability. If the lifting injury caused permanent disability, workers’ compensation typically resolves the claim with a settlement.
A Missouri workers’ compensation claim in St. Louis requires careful handling, meticulous attention to filing details, and compelling evidence. Workers’ compensation comes from insurance companies that may protect their profits at your expense by denying your claim. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney represents your best interests throughout the process, maximizing your chances of a successful claim.