Injured While Carrying Heavy Boxes at Work

From nurses to laborers to gardeners, lifting, pushing, and pulling are among the many requirements of these jobs. Done properly, an employee may perform these repetitive movements for years without injury. However, anyone who has experienced the pain that goes with an overexertion injury, such as carrying heavy boxes at work, knows that individuals are one incident away from potentially life-altering consequences.

At 25.6%, overexertion was the leading cause of all injuries in Pennsylvania in 2023, according to the annual Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report. Of the 41,688 who endured such injuries, the fields in which they hailed from were as varied as their ailments; however, nursing assistants rose to the top of the pack with more than 52% of the injuries, while order fillers and laborers rounded out the list for the top three, according to the report.

How Do I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?

Since one must prove that an injury is work-related to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits, it is important to follow the proper steps to report an incident as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Ideally, an injury should be reported as soon as it occurs. However, if this is not possible for whatever reason, an employee is required to report an injury to an employer within 120 days of the incident to be eligible for compensation in Pennsylvania.

What Are Common Back Injuries Related to Work?

It is also worth noting that Pennsylvania acknowledges Workers’ Compensation for injuries that develop over time due to repetitive motion or stress, which are considered cumulative injuries, so it is important to note any discomfort that could be associated with an occupation. For instance, manufacturers who may be required to lift certain items or routinely use the same motion to send products down an assembly line may find that their back, shoulders, or arms ache over time due to repeating the same function daily. Such factors may be considered in a work injury case, so it is extremely important to document any ailments that may have developed in the course of one’s work history.

Other injuries that could result from overexertion are:

• Sprains, strains, and tears: These injuries typically occur when a group of muscles tries to push the limits of their capabilities, such as when an individual tries to lift supplies or inventory without using the proper equipment or the correct number of people. These common injuries can be the result of rushing to accomplish a task to move on to the next one. 

• Herniated disks: The spinal column is made of bones called vertebrae and disks that sit between them that act as cushioning. When the soft, malleable tissue of a disk’s nucleus seeps through a tear in the harder exterior of the disk known as the annulus, it creates a herniated or slipped disk. Accidents at work, like slips and falls and lifting heavy items, can put a strain on your lower back—the most common area for such ailments.

• Bulging disk: Like a herniated disk, the outer layer of the disk bulges outward, but there is no tear in the outer layer, so it does not leak into the spinal canal. Repetitive motion and repeatedly handling heavy materials can cause back issues over time, leading to pain, tingling, or numbness.

• Nerve damage: Repetitive movements on the job can lead to pinched nerves – including sciatica – or even carpal tunnel syndrome. While some situations or occurrences may be temporary, others can have a lasting effect on long-term quality of life.

• Hernia: Heavy lifting and long hours of standing can cause organs to push through the abdominal wall, requiring surgery to correct the issue.

• Bursitis: Small, fluid-filled sacs called bursa cushion your bones from muscles, tendons, and even your skin. Physical labor or repeated motions, such as kneeling, cause the sacs to become inflamed in areas like the shoulders, elbows, feet, hips, and knees.

The Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Freedman & Lorry, P.C. Have Experience with Workplace Injuries

Do not automatically assume that your aches and pains are just a part of aging. If your occupation is physically demanding and calls for lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy objects, talk to the Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Freedman & Lorry, P.C. about your rights when it comes to on-the-job overexertion. Fill out our online form or call 888-999-1962 for a free consultation. With offices in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we serve clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.