Overexertion at Work: The Most Common Injury

Most of us are familiar with common workplace hazards like repetitive strain injuries or slip and fall accidents, but we often underestimate the serious risks posed by overexertion on the job. According to the National Safety Council, overexertion and bodily reaction injuries were the most common causes of Days Away from Work, Job Restriction or Transfer (DART) cases in 2022 – costing U.S. employers an estimated $13.7 billion each year and leading to significant productivity losses across a wide range of industries.

Employers in Pennsylvania are legally required to provide reasonably safe workplaces under both state and federal law. If an employer fails to take steps to protect their employees in this way, they may find themselves facing hefty claims for compensation related to the pain, suffering and financial losses of injured workers. Let’s take a closer look at the dangers of work-related overexertion and explore what it looks like for injured workers to partner with an experienced attorney to fight for the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve.

What is overexertion at work?

Overexertion is a broad term for the physical strain or stress workers may experience while performing their job duties. The most common type, “overexertion involving outside sources,” specifically refers to injuries caused by lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying or throwing objects on a regular basis as part of an employee’s work responsibilities.

In some workplaces, the physical demands of a job may exceed employees’ actual physical capabilities. This might look like a single event causing harm to an employee or repetitive actions leading to physical challenges over time. Even if a task seems manageable on paper, repeating even simple motions over and over again for months on end can lead to serious pain and discomfort that not only affects an employee’s job performance but also interferes with their ability to enjoy life outside of work.

Unlike accidents that involve external trauma, overexertion injuries often develop quietly and may go unnoticed up until the moment they result in more serious health issues. Unfortunately,  this delayed onset can make it harder for employees to pursue workers’ compensation or other forms of relief under Pennsylvania law. That’s why it’s so important for workers to stay in tune with their bodies and pay close attention to signs of strain while performing any physically demanding tasks.

Examples of overexertion in the workplace

Overexertion injuries can happen in virtually any industry and are hardly limited to labor-intensive jobs like construction or manufacturing. Office employees can also suffer repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis, which may fall under the broader category of overexertion-related workplace injuries. Here are a few examples of what overexertion can look like in different work environments:

• A warehouse employee lifting heavy boxes without proper form or support
• A stockroom employee repeatedly reaching or stretching their arms above shoulder level
• A grocery store employee pulling or pushing several carts simultaneously
• A receptionist typing, filing or answering phones for hours-long stretches of time
• A retail clerk standing behind a cash register for several hours at a time without breaks
• Healthcare workers manually moving patients from place to place or lifting them while rendering care
• Delivery drivers working in extreme heat or cold without adequate climate control in their vehicle

Even seemingly minor tasks, when performed repeatedly or without rest, can lead to serious overexertion injuries that can seriously compromise an employee’s quality of life over time.

Why overexertion injuries are so common

In our fast-paced professional culture, overexertion injuries can easily be attributed to a variety of factors. First, many managers and employers fail to train their staff in the proper lifting techniques or ergonomic practices required to perform various tasks safely. Often, this lack of training is caused or compounded by tight deadlines and regular staff turnover. As pressure mounts to perform more tasks quickly, it’s not unusual for employers to cut corners when it comes to prioritizing the safety of their team members.

In some cases, cost-cutting measures also lead employers to rely on outdated or poorly maintained equipment, which can increase the risk of injury by making routine tasks more difficult or hazardous. Even employees in sedentary roles aren’t immune to these equipment difficulties – rickety chairs, standard-issue keyboards and non-ergonomic workstations can all contribute to muscle fatigue and repetitive strain for office workers and administrative professionals.

Further compounding all of these issues is the fact that modern businesses are relying on a rapidly aging workforce. The median employee age across all U.S. industries is now around 42 years – a number that has been rising for the past two decades and is projected to continue increasing. Because older workers tend to be more vulnerable to overexertion injuries, it’s essential for both employees and employers to adopt practices that prioritize safety and minimize risk for all team members.

What kinds of injuries are caused by overexertion?

Overexertion doesn’t just cause temporary soreness or sudden strains. In many cases, overexertion may lead to debilitating pain and long-term health issues with major implications for employees’ health and happiness. Some common examples of overexertion injuries include:

• Lower back strain
• Shoulder or rotator cuff injuries
• Knee injuries
• Tendonitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Muscle tears
• Arthritis
• Joint dislocations
• Hearing loss

These kinds of injuries can impact nearly every part of an employee’s life and often require medical treatment, physical therapy and time away from work. What’s more, many of the immediate and long-term consequences of overexertion at work come with hefty price tags, adding financial strain into the mix of an already challenging recovery.

Workers’ compensation and overexertion injuries in Pennsylvania

If you were injured due to overexertion on the job, you may be within your rights to seek workers’ compensation benefits. In Pennsylvania, workers’ compensation coverage is mandatory for most employers and intended to protect employees by covering work-related injury costs like:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital care
• Surgery
• Physical therapy
• Prescription medications
• Medical equipment (crutches, braces, etc.)
• Disability payments

It’s important to note that, in Pennsylvania, you don’t need to prove that your employer was negligent in order to file a claim for workers’ compensation. As long as an injury happened in the course of your employment, you are generally eligible to receive benefits related to your medical care and lost wages.

Keep in mind, however, that insurance companies often try to deny or minimize overexertion claims by arguing that an injury was related to a pre-existing condition or occurred outside of work. That’s why it’s important to report any workplace injuries promptly and keep records of all injury-related medical care you receive. An experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney can help you gather all the documentation you need in order to file a claim and advocate for you during conversations with employers and their insurance representatives.

Have you suffered an overexertion injury at work?

Overexertion at work may be common, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the harm it causes. If you or a loved one has suffered an overexertion injury in Pennsylvania, the team at KBG Injury Law is here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. For nearly 40 years, we’ve been helping members of our community exercise their rights and fight for the compensation they need to recover from the physical, emotional and financial toll of their workplace injuries.

When an employer fails to prioritize the safety of their employees, injured workers don’t have to suffer in silence. Give us a call today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team. We are standing by to hear you out, help you understand your options and walk you through the next steps in your healing journey.