Getting back on track after a workplace injury can be quite challenging as a person loses their job responsibility and predominance in the respective field. Workplace injuries can take a huge toll on your physical and mental health, especially while you are in the recovery phase. Your healthcare practitioner may have permitted you to return to work, but there are several types of work restrictions to abide by. Are you worried that they will hamper you financially in the future? If yes, this guide will inform you of the types of work restrictions and how you can continue earning a respectful living despite all odds.
What do return-to-work restrictions signify?
Depending upon the intensity of injury caused due to workplace accidents, employees can be restricted from pushing, pulling, lifting objects above a specific weight, or indulging in any brainstorming activities. The doctors limit the patients mostly to a desk job after a workplace injury. According to the doctor’s instructions, your employer has to assign you tasks that can be performed within your limitations. If the employer refuses to do the same, you can leverage the benefits of worker’s compensation lawyers at Accident Defenders. We commonly receive return-to-work cases pertaining to the following:-
Note!
If the employer doesn’t adhere to return-to-work relaxations, they could be held liable for any accidents, and employees can readily claim workers’ compensation.
How can the modified job duties allow workers to regain their health?
Internal or external damage due to workplace injury requires rehabilitation or other treatment before returning to the full scope of job duties. At the same time, employers must also modify workers’ job responsibilities to lighter ones, preventing possible further damage to the person’s stressed areas. This way, the employee can dodge workplace accident possibilities and recover faster.
Permanent vs. Temporary Return-To-Work Restrictions
A doctor may impose either permanent or temporary work restrictions on an injured worker, depending on the severity and nature of the injury.
1. Permanent work restrictions: These limitations shall necessarily be considered for the rest of work life. They are imposed if the damage is permanent.
2. Temporary work restrictions: These restrictions are short-term and could last from a few days to years. They are essential to ensuring the worker’s safe return following injury without aggravating their existing injury or impeding their ability to recover.
Common Types of Return-To-Work Restrictions
Return-to-work restrictions can be either physical work restrictions or atmospheric limitations.
Physical work restrictions limit stressful physical activity at the workplace, while atmospheric restrictions entail one’s access to specified work surrounding and exposures. Delve deeper into the brief descriptions of common work restrictions:-
Lifting Heavy Objects
Reduction of 25% in the person’s abilities after the personal injury to do heavy lifting chores. The factors taken into consideration shall be object weight, distance, endurance, frequency, and body position. In addition, avoid bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, or other activities involving equivalent physical effort.
Repetitive Motions of Neck or Back
Losing approx 50% of pre-injury capacity for flexing, bending, extending, and rotating neck or back. Thus, the employee shall be assigned to work in a standing or walking position with minimum physical effort.
Walking Over Uneven Ground
Losing 90-100% of workers’ pre-injury capacity for walking over rough terrain can lead to tripping or worse. Assigning them with desk jobs or tasks requiring brainstorming can be a suitable alternative.
As mentioned earlier, an employer is liable to abide by the doctor’s instructions regarding return-to-work restrictions. However, if things go south, learn how you should get assistance from the best worker’s compensation attorney who is thorough with employment law for employees.
What to consider while looking for a worker’s compensation attorney?
While employment laws for employees are not very easy to comprehend, worker’s compensation attorneys at Accident Defenders are well-versed with every relevant updation. Ask the following relevant questions from our experienced attorneys and, based on your requirements, decide our proficiency:-
- What is your relevant expertise and experience?
- Can you take the case immediately?
- What is your assessment of my case?
- What are your charges, and how do they vary?
Most of the time, the process of providing workers’ compensation benefits runs without a hitch. However, there are situations when you require the assistance of a workplace injury lawyer to guide you through the process of filing a claim. An attorney with updated knowledge of work-related injury laws with ensure that you obtain all the benefits to which you are entitled.
If the circumstances have led you to file a workers’ compensation claim and further legal actions against your employer, Accident Defenders are here to help you.