Workers’ Compensation for Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace

Silverman, McDonald & Friedman is a premier personal injury law firm serving clients throughout Delaware. We have skilled workers’ compensation attorneys who are here to represent individuals who have been injured or suffered an occupational illness at work. Our offices are conveniently located in Newark, Wilmington and Seaford. Please contact us to learn more.

Not every workplace injury is caused by an accident. Sometimes injuries develop slowly, over time, until eventually they reach critical mass and begin causing stiffness pain and limited range of motion and the inability to work without pain. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are injuries that affect the body’s muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, etc. MSDs affect how the body moves and therefore, can have an impact on your ability to do your work and the activities of daily living.

Workers across many different types of industries are exposed to Musculoskeletal Disorders through the tasks that they must perform daily such as bending, lifting, reaching, pushing and pulling performing awkward movements and performing the same task repetitively. The U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) gives the following examples of Musculoskeletal Disorders:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Epicondylitis
• Trigger finger
• Muscle strains and lower back injuries

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were 356,910 cases of MSDs reported in 2015. The leading major event resulting in occupational injury or illness in 2015 was overexertion and bodily reaction. Laborers, movers (20,990) nursing assistants (16,860) and truck drivers (14,900) each incurred at least 5 percent of the total musculoskeletal disorders in the private sector in 2015.

A worker who begins to have the painful symptoms of a musculoskeletal disorder should report the illness to their employer and seek medical attention. If they will be unable to return to work while they recover, the employee can file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is a state-run program that provides a partial wage-loss temporary disability benefit for those who suffer a workplace injury or occupational disease. The program also includes a death benefit for the surviving loved ones of a worker who is killed in a work-related accident.

Preventing musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace

The most important thing to know about MSDs is that they are almost always preventable. Here are a few tips to avoiding MSDs on the job:

• If you sit to do your job, make sure that you have correct posture with your back straight and shoulders back and loose.
• Make sure that your chair places you at proper height in order to reach your keyboard
• Position the monitor so that it is at eye-level, and keep the mouse within reach
• If you are required to bend and lift items over your head, make sure that you use proper lifting techniques to protect your back and prevent twisting.
• Take frequent breaks to move and stretch

Getting adequate sleep, maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle also help prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Are you facing any kind of difficulty getting your workers’ compensation claim approved, or your employer’s insurer is cutting your benefits, you are welcome to consult with an experienced Delaware workers’ compensation attorney at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman today.

If you have been injured at work and are facing a dispute over your workers’ compensation benefits, we are here to help. Call us at 302.414.5553 or fill out our contact form to learn more about our what our workers’ compensation attorneys in Newark, Seaford or Wilmington can do for you. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we are here to serve your legal needs.