Many jobs require workers to perform repetitive tasks that work the same muscles and body parts over and over. Over time workers commonly suffer repetitive strain injuries that cause them to miss significant amounts of work. The resulting musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for nearly a third of all workplace injuries in 2013 with 380,600 reported, the National Safety Council reports.
The time off work cost employers between $20 billion and $30 billion that year. Most years, the cost is between $15 billion and $20 billion for lost productivity, medical costs and worker time off the job, the U.S. Dept. of Labor reports. Repetitive strain injuries are particularly costly due to the length of time off work the injuries generally require.
When suffering a repetitive strain injury, a worker misses an average of 11 days of work, versus eight days of missed work for other injuries. The total economic burden of those missed days each year adds up to between $45 billion and $54 billion in medical and lost productivity costs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
Repetitive strain injuries often manifest themselves in one of six ways:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Elbow injuries (tennis elbow)
- Trigger finger
- Muscle strains and lower back injuries
Each of the above injuries is highly common in the workplace injuries and adds up to significant costs in lost productivity and worker incomes each year. Employers, though, are required to provide a healthful work environment. That includes providing ergonomic work equipment that helps to prevent repetitive strain injuries.
Responsible employers provide on the job training to limit repetitive strain injuries and ergonomic equipment designed reduce workplace injuries and related costs. An experienced workplace injury attorney can help hold job providers responsible when they do not give workers the tools necessary to complete their jobs without suffering injury.
