Many California residents have jobs that involve repeatedly performing the same movements. This can lead to muscle aches and pains, which can result in a repetitive work injury. This is an injury caused by overusing muscles or joints by moving them in a certain way too much.
Repetitive work injuries can happen in almost any job
You may associate repetitive work injuries with jobs involving a lot of physical movement, but repetitive work injuries can happen in many different industries, including office jobs. You may develop back pain because of an uncomfortable chair or wrist problems from typing or using a computer too much.
There are many things your employer can, and should, do, to reduce the chance that you will sustain a repetitive work injury.
You should have proper equipment to do your job
If you work in an office, your employer should provide proper equipment for a job that involves sitting at a desk in front of a monitor for long periods. This means that you should have a chair that supports your back, a desk that you can adjust to your size and your computer monitor should be at eye level to reduce neck pain.
Your employer should also provide education and training as to why they are providing you with this equipment. Many times, workers perform their jobs without taking advantage of certain equipment because they don’t know how it can help them. They may have no idea that they are straining their muscles.
Don’t wait to see your doctor
You should see a doctor at the first sign of an injury. You may be diagnosed with a repetitive work injury, which could make you eligible for workers’ compensation.
However, proving a repetitive work injury is caused by your job and not something else can be difficult. Your employer would likely argue that there are many different things that could have caused the injury.
Knowing how to prove your case is important, since your injury could cause you to be unable to work for a while. Having professional advice and guidance through the workers’ compensation claim process can be helpful.