Moving, lifting, storing and relocating bulk items and packages are any everyday part of your job. Soreness accompanies you at the end of every work shift. You accept such physical inconveniences as simply part of your job working in a warehouse.
But there is the potential for a variety of injuries, some of which may be life-threatening. Lacerations and sprains are common for such physical work. Then there is also the potential for fractures and loss of limbs. Repetitive stress injuries may cause arthritis, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. One of the most serious is a cervical hematoma, which has symptoms that may not surface for days.
May lead to limb paralysis
A cervical hematoma is a potentially life-threatening injury most often caused by trauma, which may come from a fall or the moving and lifting of heavy items.
This serious condition often is caused by bleeding from a soft tissue injury or damage to a vein or artery in the neck area. The blood builds up, compressing the spinal cord and putting it out of alignment. Harmful neurological complications may surface and include muscle weakness, paralysis of the affected limbs, numbness and incontinence.
This is a workplace injury no matter what your employer claims. However, your employer may have made unreasonable demands on you. Did your employer force you to work extra hours? Did your supervisor ignore you when you complained about pain? And did your employer provide you with the proper training and equipment to perform your job?
You need workers’ compensation benefits
In such situations, you have every right to pursue a workers’ compensation claim. The law is on your side. Those much-needed benefits will help you pay for costly medical bills and lost earnings. Many of these injuries are serious. Let us hope you receive timely medical treatment on your way to recovery.