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Are back injuries common workplace injuries?

On Behalf of | Apr 26, 2019 | Workplace Injuries |

As we age, our body becomes less like it was during our youth. People may not be as fast as they once were, their metabolism may be slower and they are likely to experience more pain and aches in their joints and other body parts. While some of this is simply due to individuals in Ohio and elsewhere getting older, it could also be related to a person’s work environment. Take, for example, back pain. This could be related to how a person is standing, sitting and moving in the workplace and could be categorized as a workplace injury.

Are back injuries common workplace injuries? Disorders of the musculoskeletal system are injuries or illnesses that are often the result of overexertion or repetitive motion. These disorders can include soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, carpal tunnel, tears and hernias. With regards to musculoskeletal injuries that are work-related, the injury that causes the most missed days of work just involved the back.

Work-related back injuries account for roughly 40% of all work-related musculoskeletal injuries. With regards to occupations that experience a high rate of back injuries in the workplace, nursing assistants have a high rate. More than half of the cases recorded in 2016 affected the back. Other occupations with a high rate of back injuries include stock clerks, maintenance and repair workers and laborers.

Whether it occurs suddenly in a workplace accident or overtime because of repetitive motions in the work environment, a workplace injury can be very impactful. An injured worker may require time off to recover, resulting in lost wages for this period of time. In order to address these losses, it may be possible to apply for workers’ compensation. These benefits could help cover losses while the injured worker takes the time necessary to properly recover and return to work.