Health Issues: Overexertion in the Workplace

Overexertion in the workplace has consistently been found to be one of the leading causes of workplace injuries. Any job, in any profession, that requires manual labor, no matter how demanding, can cause an overexertion injury. In professions that require large amounts of physical labor, the chance of becoming overexerted increases exponentially. An individual that knows his or her physical limitations may help reduce the risk of becoming overexerted. However, work-related injuries triggered by overexertion happen every day, causing individuals to seek out medical assistance and, sometimes, workers’ compensation benefits.

Overexertion refers to situations where an employee uses excessive effort during an activity, such as pulling, pushing, lifting, throwing, carrying, or holding, that results in injury. Injuries in the workplace resulting from excessive exertion may also include working in awkward positions or something as simple as typing on a computer. Fatigue, dehydration, and acute or chronic physical pain are just some of the symptoms of overexertion.

Some common workplace overexertion injuries are:

• Muscle strains
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Joint injuries
• Tendon injuries
• Connective tissue injuries
• Nerve injuries
• Heart attacks.

When an injury from overexertion occurs, there are a variety of factors that may have contributed to the injury. For example, if an employee is not properly trained on how to lift and carry heavy merchandise, an injury caused by overexertion may occur. Another example of an injury triggered by overexertion would be an employee being forced to complete certain work-related tasks that he or she is not physically equipped to handle.

Regardless of what causes an individual’s injury, the most important step in ensuring your rights for workers’ compensation benefits is to quickly notify any work-related injuries to your employer. An employee who fails to report his or her injury in a specific amount of time risks losing their rights to workers’ compensation benefits.

The consequences of becoming injured on the job from overexertion can range from lost time at work to long-term pain that results in the inability to work. So, if you have been injured at work, don’t go at it alone. We have two workers’ compensation specialists on staff who can help you get the compensation you deserve. Give us a call today at 1-800-518-4529.