Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) can happen to anyone who performs the same movements for long periods. In jobs involving physical labor, like construction, warehouse, or janitorial work, these injuries are common.
RSIs are not just a minor inconvenience and can lead to more serious health problems. Fortunately, Florida’s workers’ comp system can help employees with these types of injuries.
What are repetitive stress injuries?
RSIs happen when a person repeats the same motion often, putting stress on muscles, nerves, and tendons. Over time, this stress can cause pain, swelling, and long-term damage. These ergonomic injuries can eventually develop into musculoskeletal disorders. This makes it difficult to keep working or even perform everyday tasks.
Some of the most common types of RSIs are carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and bursitis. Jobs that require heavy lifting, typing, or constant use of machinery can increase the risk of these injuries. Even jobs that seem less physically demanding, like working in an office, can lead to RSIs if the individual repeats the same movements every day.
How does Florida workers’ comp cover RSIs?
In Florida, the workers’ comp system provides coverage for RSIs as long as the injury is work-related. To qualify for benefits, an employee must report the injury to the employer within 30 days of noticing it.
Getting benefits requires proving that the job caused the injury and not something else, such as a hobby or previous injury. Medical reports and a detailed history of work activities can help establish this connection.
Then, workers’ comp benefits can cover medical expenses, such as doctor visits, treatments, and physical therapy. If the RSI causes an employee to miss work, that person may also receive partial wage replacement. Throughout the process, the worker should follow all medical advice to recover fully and avoid further injury.
RSIs are an invisible menace that can alter a person’s life, so no one should take them lightly. Florida workers who sustain this injury because of their job have the right to file a workers’ comp claim to get the support that helps them recover and return to work safely.