RSI’s or “Repetitive Stress Injuries” like carpal tunnel are becoming increasingly common as more and more workers are restricted to their desks to perform their job over a keyboard. While the work is most likely the cause of the injury, you can’t sue your employer over carpal tunnel syndrome. Most workers are barred from pursuing a lawsuit for workplace injuries by workers compensation laws.
If you’re someone who suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome that you believe is caused by your work, it’s important to understand your state’s workers’ compensation insurance system. Workers’ comp may be your only means of receiving compensation for your work-related injury.

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What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that is caused by the compression of the median nerve and the tendons that flex your fingers as they travel through the “carpal tunnel” in your wrist. This tunnel is very narrow, so even a small amount of swelling can compress the nerve. This compression can cause pain, weakness, and even numbness in the hand and wrist.

Although carpal tunnel syndrome can be the result of a variety of factors, including age, weight, trauma, arthritis, disease, pregnancy, etc., it can also be caused by overuse or repetitive movements of the hand and wrist. Common workplace-based examples of repetitive tasks include: 

• Typing
• Using a cash register
• Pushing, slicing, or pressing objects without a sufficient break or rest period

Treating carpal tunnel syndrome could require surgery. This surgical procedure is known as carpal tunnel release. A surgeon will cut through the ligament to make more space for the median nerve and tendons. Non-surgical remedies include rest, splinting, diuretics, and steroid injections.

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Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

If you suffer a work-related injury, you’ll most likely be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are a few arguments you could encounter when it comes to carpal tunnel and other repetitive stress injuries.

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Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome a Workplace Injury?

One of the most frequently debated issues when it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome is whether it was caused by a workplace injury or by a non-work-related factor. The employee will have the burden of proving the injury was work-related. For example, a worker may hold a second job that requires repetitive movements, or outside of work they may be an avid tennis player. In both of those instances, it could be argued that carpal tunnel syndrome developed because of those factors.

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Characterizing Carpal Tunnel: Burden Of Proof

How carpal tunnel syndrome is characterized can affect your burden of proof. For example, if compensable as an occupational disease, you may have to prove by convincing evidence that the injury arose during and out of the course of employment.

No Cost to Discuss Your Case; $0 until we win.

The Crime –

A Columbus, Ohio mobile home maintenance worker now owes his former employer, TS Tech USA Corporation, more than $41,000.

35 year old Jason C. Smith, plead guilty to a felony count of workers’ compensation fraud this past Tuesday (August 14, 2018).

Investigators were acting on a tip with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation when they found out Jason Smith was working for the mobile home park as well as a number of private individuals for close to two years. All while he was receiving $41,413 in disability benefits from TS Tech.

The Punishment –

Along with having to repay the money, a judge also sentenced him to one year of jail time, which was suspended in exchange for 3 years’ probation.

According to Jim Wernecke, BWC’s special investigations department director, “You can’t claim you’re disabled and collect benefits from BWC or your employer when you’re also working under the radar and making a living. Workers’ comp benefits are for people who truly can’t work because they were injured on the job, not people who want to cheat the system and pad their income.”

This comes on the heels of yet another workers comp scam in Ohio.

The Crime –

On August 8th, 57-year-old Grant Myers, of Huron, was ordered to reimburse BWC $11,566 after pleading guilty to a first-degree count of workers’ compensation fraud.

Investigators found him running a drywall business while receiving disability benefits from the agency.

The Punishment –

Myers was initially given a 30-day jail sentence for his crimes, but a judge suspended the sentence after Myers agreed to pay BWC restitution.

If you are injured at work and worried about your financial future, immediately get an attorney who specializes in workers comp cases. Partnering with a skilled worker’s’ compensation attorney may ensure that you get maximum compensation for your injuries. Your needs are more than just a basic settlement.

The Help You Need –

Call Columbus Attorney Tom Marchese at 614.486.3249 or click here to get started with your free consultation.

States Rights vs. Feds

As of 2018, medical marijuana is legal in 29 U.S. states and recreational is legal in 7 states… And there’s no end in sight. The opioid crisis continually makes headlines, and some doctors are already prescribing marijuana as an alternative to addictive narcotics.

In fact, there are known cases of injured workers weaning themselves off of opioids using marijuana. Some evidence even suggests marijuana can be extremely effective in addressing issues like epilepsy, glaucoma and some traumatic injuries.

As for the evidence?…

One study that appears in a 2017 edition of the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain asked medical marijuana patients to rate the effectiveness in treating their pain. The average score was 74.6% on a scale of 0% (“no relief at all”) to 100% (“complete relief of pain”).

Still, marijuana-related research is in its beginning stages. And even if cannabis becomes a more mainstream therapy for workers comp injuries, it still remains illegal under federal law.

That means if a doctor prescribes cannabis for an injured worker, the carrier may still have grounds to refuse payment of the claim.

So far, only 5 states, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New Mexico, officially require insurers to pay workers comp claims involving medical marijuana.

Although such cases have been few, as more states legalize marijuana, it could be a very interesting circumstance. You could have a state saying yes, you have to pay, and the feds saying no. Although the supremacy clause of the Constitution may suggest the federal government would have precedence, it could be seen as a states’ rights issue too.

The Drug-Free Workplace

Another issue working its way through the courts is an employers choice to implement drug-free workplace policies.

The goal seems simple: Reduce the number of employees who come to work impaired. If a larger portion of the workforce comes to work drunk or high, that could create injuries on the job that wouldn’t exist before.

Every state has laws that dictate what an insurer can do if someone causes an injury who was impaired in some way. Some allow you to restrict coverage and some allow you to deny the claim altogether.

But do drug-free workplace policies stand up in states where marijuana is legal, either medically or recreationally?

In 2015, Colorado courts ruled that an employer can have a drug-free workplace policy and fire you for testing positive for marijuana, even though it’s legal.

But in July, a Massachusetts Court ruled that employees who have legal prescriptions for marijuana can sue their employers for disability discrimination. But only if they’re fired solely on the basis of using the drug. That means that while employers are free to enforce a drug-free workplace policy, they can still be held liable for discrimination.

The Burden of Proof

The reality is, there’s no reliable way for an employer to determine whether an employee is high at work. A drug test may come back positive, but that could just mean the employee smoked at some point in the last few weeks.

However, it’s important to note: In Ohio, a positive urine test for cannabis creates a rebuttable presumption that the injured worker was intoxicated at the time of the injury and the intoxication caused the injury.

Short of an injured worker coming clean of their own accord, proving marijuana impairment in the event of an injury is a tall order. You can’t breathalyze for marijuana, unlike alcohol which can be tested on the spot. But the science hasn’t gotten there yet for marijuana or even for prescription pain medications.

Some employers have expressed concern that if they implemented drug testing they wouldn’t be able to get the work done. There are certain industries where drug use among employees is just part of the drill.

You have people saying, ‘Why does it matter, as long as I’m not stoned when I come to work? You don’t test to see if I got drunk over the weekend or even if I just had a couple of beers last night. Why does it matter what I’m doing in my off-hours?’

What does a drug-free workplace look like in a world where marijuana is legal?
As this becomes more prolific, we’ll have to figure out how we deal with it.

If you’ve got a question about a workers comp issue, immediately call Columbus Attorney Tom Marchese at 614.486.3249 or click here to get started with your free consultation.

Creating a safe work environment is crucial for both employers and employees. Workplace injuries can disrupt productivity, cause financial losses, and harm individuals.

Let’s explore the 5 most common workplace injuries and provide practical tips on how to prevent them. By implementing preventive measures, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the well-being of everyone in the workplace.

1. Trips, Slips And Falls

Slips, trips and falls account for one-third of all personal injuries in the workplace, and they’re a top cause of all workers’ compensation claims. The types of injuries incurred include head, back and neck injuries, broken bones, cuts, sprains and pulled muscles.

The most common reasons for falls in the workplace are:

Slips: Occasional spills, wet or oily surfaces, weather hazards like icy steps or walkways, and loose rugs.

Trips: Poor lighting, clutter, wrinkled carpeting or mats, uncovered cables, and uneven walking surfaces.

There are 3 keys to preventing these types of workplace accidents: good housekeeping, quality walking surfaces and proper footwear. Beyond that, employees should be encouraged to report areas where clutter, obstruction, spillage or damage have occurred.

2. Being Struck By Or Caught In Moving Machinery

Accidents can happen to anyone working with heavy machinery although they are more common in factories, with farm equipment, and construction equipment. Machinery that’s not properly guarded is a safety hazard. When body parts get caught in or struck by exposed moving parts or flying objects from machines without protective guards, the results are often times disastrous. The long and horrifying list of machinery-related injuries includes crushed hands and arms, severed fingers, blindness and even worse.
The best way to prevent mechanical hazards is to remember that any machine part, function, or process that may cause injury MUST be safeguarded, and proper operator training as well as protective clothing must always be provided.

3. Vehicle-Related Accidents

Where there are vehicles of any kind, there’s the potential for accidents. These include being struck or run over by a moving vehicle, falling from a vehicle, being struck by objects falling from a vehicle and getting crushed by or stuck under an overturned vehicle.

Avoiding these types of accidents begins with assessing who’s at risk, as well as where and when these accidents most commonly occur. Only then are prevention measures more easily established. Focus on workplace design, ensuring all layout routes always segregate pedestrians and vehicles and make any obstructions clearly visible. Directions, speed limit and priority signs are also helpful.

4. Fire And Explosions

Explosions and fires in the workplace are frequently caused by risk factors such as faulty gas lines, improperly stored combustible materials, or open flames. The resulting injuries incurred include damage to the respiratory system, varying degrees of burns, and even potential disfigurement. Explosions and fires account for 3 percent of workplace injuries and have the highest casualty rate of all probable workplace accidents.

There are 4 types of injuries commonly associated with this type of accident:

Primary Blast: These occur due to the effects of pressure on body tissues, affecting ears, lungs and the GI tract.

Secondary Blast: This occurs when flying objects strike nearby workers.

Tertiary Blast: High-energy explosions can lift someone off the ground.

Quaternary Blast: Everything else that happens as a result of an explosion, such as crush injuries, burns and inhalation of toxic substances.

OSHA recommends following its hazard communication standards to help workers avoid these types of injuries. In addition, material safety data sheets for all chemicals should be kept on hand and employees should be required to wear personal protective equipment at all times.

5. Repetitive Stress and Overexertion Injuries

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most costly workplace injuries. Complaints of back pain alone cost employers more than 7 billion dollars annually and lead to more than 100 million lost workdays annually. These kinds of injuries contribute to loss of productivity and millions in annual health benefit payout costs.

The financial impact on the employer is one thing, but the long-term effects on workers can be severe and potentially debilitating and they account for nearly 33 percent of occupational injuries.

Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) are the fasting growing category of workplace injury and comprise more than 100 different types of job-induced injuries, and they’re severe enough to inhibit simple activities with crippling and debilitating pain. They could even eventually permanently impair a worker’s ability to perform his or her job.

Causes for these types of injuries include:

Improper Lifting or Manually Lifting Heavy Objects: You’ve heard it a million times, lift with your knees, not your back. Especially objects weighing over 50lbs without the assistance of a co-worker or lifting device.

No Breaks: With repetitive work, short breaks should be required or the work may eventually result in wear and tear on the body.

Intensive Keying: Constant typing and clicking strains muscles and tendons.

The key to preventing these injuries is ergonomics! Ergonomics is the science of adjusting the job to fit the body’s needs and provides injury prevention solutions that are simple and relatively inexpensive. Workers assigned to tasks that require repetitive motion should be required to take frequent breaks to rest or stretch, and manual or mechanical lifting equipment should be provided for anything weighing over 50 lbs.

The best way to protect your employees and help prevent injuries in your workplace is to take a holistic approach to workplace safety. This means ensuring your employees have the proper protective equipment, adequate training to perform their jobs, and making sure your facility is compliant with federal and environmental regulations.

If you’re injured at work, immediately call Columbus Attorney Tom Marchese at 614.486.3249 or click here to get started with your free consultation.

Have a safe day!

Knowing the difference between a slip and fall and a trip and fall.

​Maybe it seems like splitting hairs, but there are big differences between a SLIP and fall and a TRIP and fall, and the difference can mean a lot when it comes to the legal side of things.

​Most people have probably heard the term “slip and fall”. It may seem confusing to have a separate category for tripping accidents. Let’s talk about the difference between them.

What exactly is a Slip and Fall?

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’re perusing the shelves at your local grocery store. On the floor of an isle is a broken jar of sauce. You don’t notice the mess, and while scanning the isle for your favorite spaghetti sauce and you step on the broken jar. This causes your leg to hyperextend, or even worse you end up on your back on the floor. You call an ambulance and curse the grocery store on the way out. This is an example of a slip and fall.

A slip is when you slip on substance that makes a floor unsafe. Another common slipping hazard is ice. Ice can form very quickly and be difficult to spot on dark surfaces such as blacktop. This can occur if a landlord, business or homeowner failed to properly prevent slip and falls on the ice.

What is a Trip and Fall?

A trip and fall is a little different. Let’s go back to the grocery store scenario. Let’s say you made it past the broken jar isle and did not slip and fall. Now you venture over to the next isle where another spill has happened. This time, an employee has already cleaned the mess up; however, they left the mop on the ground. Once again, you don’t notice the mop. You go down hard on your hands and knees. This is a trip and fall.

As the little story suggests, a trip and fall happens when an object is sticking out of its normal place or a surface is uneven. Most times, you catch your foot on it which causes you to fall abruptly. A trip and fall could also be an uneven sidewalk in Columbus. Unfortunately, those are all too common.

Legal Issues

These differences may seem subtle, but there is a big difference legally. When it comes to making your case in front of the jury, you have to make sure that you know the difference.

A slip and fall usually results in severe injuries. The slip tends to propel the body backwards. Depending on the velocity of your movements, you could seriously injure your head, neck, or spine.

When you trip, the body typically falls forward. You use your hands and knees to brace your fall. We learned this when we were children. Therefore, a trip and fall tends to cause injuries in the hands, knees, face, or wrists depending on how you attempted to catch yourself when you fell.

For both of these instances, you want to make sure that you keep all medical records. Medical records are important if you decide to sue the person, people or entity responsible for your injuries. Due to the nature of a slip and fall, you want to remember as much details as you can. The more information you have, the easier it will be to prove negligence.

If anyone approached you after either of these falls, make sure to remember a name or at least a description of them. If the owners or managers responsible for the store sold you promises, it may be relevant to your case.

Deciding to Sue.

If you make the decision to bring a lawsuit for your medical expenses and pain and suffering, you have two years to bring your lawsuit. There is a 2 year statute of limitations that begins at the time of injury or time of discovery of the injury.

You deserve to be made whole for your slip and fall or trip and fall, and you deserve a dedicated team behind you. Call Columbus Injury Attorney Tom Marchese at 614-486-3249.