Careers That Commonly Lead to Overexertion Injuries

An overexertion injury is a type of workplace injury that occurs when too much physical stress is placed on the body—especially on the back and shoulders. Whatever the body part and whatever the cause, an overexertion injury can be devastating for the worker involved. In some cases, workers are disabled for a long period of time, leading to serious financial troubles resulting from a lack of income.

According to a study by the Liberty Mutual Group, overexertion is, by far, the most prevalent cause of workplace injury in the United States. More than 25% of the worker’s compensation payments made by Liberty Mutual in 1998 were listed as having been a result of an overexertion injury.¹

Causes of Overexertion Injuries

Overexertion injuries can be caused in a number of ways, including the following:

• Lifting too much and/or too often (extremely common)
• Pulling or pushing large amounts of weight
• Carrying significant amounts of weight on a regular basis
• Lowering heavy objects (especially if lowered improperly)
• Forceful use of a tool
• Awkward body positioning (especially the hands, elbows, shoulders, or arms)
• Long periods of being in one position
• Long hours of standing, especially on hard surfaces

Careers Commonly Associated with Overexertion Injuries

Careers where overexertion injuries are particularly common are those that rely predominantly on manual labor and physical ability. Individuals who work in warehouses, on construction sites, in fabrication plants, or in other areas where heavy lifting is a daily activity are especially susceptible to overexertion injuries.

Other skilled tradespersons—like electricians, plumbers, maintenance workers, and more—are also at risk of overexertion as a result of awkward positioning and the necessity to stay in one position for long periods.

Find Representation with Personal Injury Law Firm SMS Legal

If you’ve suffered from an injury that you believe to be a result of overexertion, you may be entitled to legal compensation for your losses. SMS Legal in Houston tirelessly represents workers injured on the job by overexertion, repetitive motion, falls, and more.

To learn more about what we do or to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers, call us today.

Source

http://ehstoday.com/news/ehs_imp_34438