Long Term Consequences Of Occupational Injuries

Apr 7
01:59

2022

Georgie Hawthorne

Georgie Hawthorne

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Most people only think about the short-term consequences of occupational injuries. In reality, there are many long-term consequences that can result from such injuries. This is why it is so important to prevent such injuries from happening in the first place.The only way to prevent injuries in the workplace is to have proper health and safety policies in place.

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An employer can check if they are adhering to the set regulations by conducting a WHS audit and follow up with a WHS consultation with a professional who can recommend the required changes to them.

Employers should also carry out regular testing such as lung function testing and onsite audiometric testing to ensure that their employees are not suffering form any work related lung or hearing problems,Long Term Consequences Of Occupational Injuries Articles which can cause serious issues for the person if not detected early.

 

What are some common occupational injuries and their long-term consequences?

There are many common occupational injuries that have long term consequences, such as:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Chronic pain.
  • Depression/anxiety.
  • Disability or disfigurement.
  • Headaches (migraines) and neck strain.

 

These can cause other symptoms like dizziness, nausea and vomiting. They may also interfere with sleep patterns which will affect work performance over time. The long-term consequences of these injuries are a reduction in productivity at work due to the inability to perform tasks effectively because of physical limitations caused by headaches or neck strain. As you can see, it is very important for employers to prevent such injuries from happening in the first place so that they don’t have these kinds of issues on their hands down the line. This means having proper safety training programs available for all employees as well as providing the correct equipment to do the job safely.

 

There are many long-term consequences of occupational injuries that employers need to be aware of. For example, someone who suffers a back injury may experience pain and difficulty walking for months or even years after the initial injury occurred. This can lead to them being absent from work for an extended period, which will undoubtedly cause a decrease in productivity. In some cases, people may never fully recover from their injuries and will have to live with chronic pain for the rest of their lives. Other long-term consequences can include depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These mental health conditions can often be just as debilitating as physical injuries and may require treatment from a professional therapist, which can cost a significant amount of money. In addition, it can also lead to difficulties in social situations and personal relationships. All of these factors have the potential to cause serious issues for the injured person’s quality of life and well-being, which is why it is so important to take steps towards preventing workplace injuries from occurring in the first place.

 

How can you prevent these injuries from happening in the first place?

Some things that employers can do to prevent these injuries from happening include:

  • Providing proper training on how to use equipment safely.
  • Making sure that employees are using PPE when necessary.
  • Providing ergonomic chairs, desks, and other furniture for workers who spend long hours sitting down. These things can help reduce back strain as well as eye strain from staring at screens all day long.
  • Provide regular breaks throughout the workday so employees have time away from their computers or tasks where they are doing repetitive motions such as typing.

 

What should you do if you suffer an occupational injury?

Occupational injuries can be quite common, and hence there are procedures that you need to follow

  • First, the employee should notify their supervisor or manager immediately if they suffer an injury at work.
  • The next step is to seek medical attention and get treated for any injuries suffered. This can be done either onsite or off site depending on severity of injuries but it is important not only because employees will feel better after treatment but also because sometimes workers compensation claims require proof that medical care was sought out within 24 hours following accident occurrence so make sure you do this.
  • After going through all necessary steps with a doctor or healthcare provider, then documentation like filling out claim forms must take place before filing them away in appropriate locations where employers have easy access when needed later down road when they have to produce records.
  • Keep in mind that there are statutes of limitations for workers compensation claims, so contact an attorney as soon as possible if necessary to get started on claim filing process.
  • Depending on state law, employees might be able to file a lawsuit outside of workers comp system too but this is definitely something that should be discussed with experienced legal professional.

 

All in all, it is important for everyone involved to understand long term consequences of occupational injuries and do whatever possible to avoid them from happening in the first place. That way, everyone can focus on getting back to work as quickly as possible.

 

How can workers' compensation help injured workers get back on their feet?

Workers' compensation is a means of ensuring that an injured worker will continue to have income while they recover from their injury. In addition, workers' compensation can help provide medical treatment and necessary rehabilitation services so these employees are able to return as quickly possible after suffering a work-related accident or illness.

 

Workers’ Compensation Insurance is designed specifically for employers who want the peace of mind knowing their business assets won't be taken away if someone gets hurt at work due to negligence on behalf of management or themselves (which would otherwise result in costly lawsuits). The employer pays premiums based upon payroll numbers each month which then covers all eligible expenses associated with lost wages during recovery time period where employee needs treatment following injuries sustained while performing job duties related tasks assigned by employee supervisor/bosses and others. These can help prevent disabling potential injuries from happening in the first place.

 

However, what about when they do happen anyhow? Even with insurance, there can be great financial consequences for both the injured employee and the company. Beyond just medical expenses which are often shockingly high for catastrophic workplace accidents, long-term disability payments (LTD) must also be considered. Many people assume that LTD is only available to those who have suffered a complete and permanent loss of income but that is not always the case.

 

Many employees returning back to work following an occupational injury may find themselves earning a much lower wage than before their injury due to limitations placed on them by doctors or physical restrictions related to the accident itself. This can last anywhere from months to years and cause a lot of financial stress. In some cases, benefits may be the only way to make ends meet until the employee is able to return to their previous job or a new one.