Construction Jobs Put Workers at Risk for Serious Back Injuries

Every day, Ohio construction workers are hurt on the job. In 2016, 6,100 construction workers suffered nonfatal job-related injuries and illnesses in Ohio. These workers were hurt in many on-the-job accidents and suffered many injuries—including back injuries.

If you experience a back injury while working on a construction site, you may be in significant and debilitating pain. You will need medical care and may be unable to work. To protect your claim for workers’ compensation for your injury, you should get the medical attention you need soon and notify your employer in writing you have been hurt on the job. Finally, talk to an attorney about your workers’ comp claim. At Monast Law, we handle all aspects of a work injury claim, including making sure your paperwork is in order and communicating with your employer and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation on your behalf. A construction site back injury should be taken seriously and we are here to ensure that it is.

Major Causes of Back Injuries for Construction Site Workers

The tasks construction workers complete multiple times a day on the job put them at particular risk of a back injury. Some of the risky work they perform includes:

• Lifting and carrying heavy materials
• Making sudden movements
• Bending over repeatedly
• Twisting their bodies in uncomfortable ways to get their jobs done
• Operating vibrating construction machinery
• Encountering hazards that cause a slip and fall accident

Construction Workers Who Frequently Experience Back Injuries

Many jobs around a construction site can lead to a back injury or chronic back pain. Construction workers at high risk of injuring their backs on the job include:

• Carpenters. Repetitive hammering in awkward positions can cause a carpenter to pull or twist back muscles or ligaments.
• Brick layers. Back injuries can be caused by moving heavy materials around and the constant bending and straightening required while laying bricks.
• Electricians. Wearing a heavy tool belt and working while hunched over can lead to chronic back problems among electricians.
• Plumbers. Plumbers can injure their backs while twisting, turning, and bending to get to difficult-to-reach places.
• Roofers. Climbing ladders and balancing on scaffolding while holding heavy materials and working in uncomfortable positions can contribute to a roofer’s back injury.
• Drywall and insulation installers. Drywall workers can suffer a back injury caused by holding materials over their heads as they work.
• Painters. The repetitive motions and long work hours experienced by many housepainters can lead to serious back injuries.

Any manual labor on a construction site can cause a sudden, traumatic back injury or contribute to a long-term, chronic condition.

Back Injuries May Lead to Missed Time at Work and Expensive Treatment

When seeking treatment for a back injury, the injured worker should tell the doctor the injury happened at work so it is documented in his medical record. The treatment he will receive will depend on the specific back injury that occurred. Treatment options include:

• Rest
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Pain medication
• Surgery

Your treatment may take time and you may have to miss work while you recover. If you need surgery or long-term physical therapy to treat your injury, your medical costs could be astronomical.

Help Getting the Workers’ Compensation Benefits You Need After a Back Injury

You should get the benefits you need to cover the cost of your back injury treatment. Our experienced legal team helps construction workers with back injury claims present compelling medical evidence so they can get the medical care and other workers’ compensation benefits they deserve for their unique injuries. Call us today to see how we can help you. Meanwhile, please download a free copy of our book, The Worker’s Guide to Injury Compensation in Ohio, to learn more about the Ohio workers’ compensation system.