Many manufacturing and industrial jobs in Scranton require repetitive motions, leading to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis or back pain. These repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) can be debilitating, impacting your ability to work and live comfortably. If you believe your job caused or worsened such an injury, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Pennsylvania.
How do RSIs qualify for workers’ comp?
Workers’ compensation covers injuries or conditions that develop from work tasks or occur while performing job duties. Since RSIs are not always tied to one specific incident, you need to demonstrate a connection between your job duties and the development of your injury.
Even if the pain develops gradually, showing that symptoms started and worsened while performing these tasks is essential to your claim.
How should you track and record your symptoms?
Before filing a claim, it is critical to have a clear record of how your symptoms developed. By keeping a personal log, you can show which work tasks contribute to your condition. Keep track of the following:
- Dates and times of when symptoms appear and the duration
- Specific job tasks that cause or aggravate pain
- Severity and nature of symptoms
Logging your symptoms consistently and notifying your employer about them early can help create a clear timeline of when and how your injury developed.
What evidence can support your claim?
Besides a log of your symptoms, you will need relevant evidence to prove a repetitive strain injury is work-related. The following can provide further context for your symptoms and how these relate to your job tasks:
- An outline of your daily tasks, tools or machinery you use and the repetitive motions involved
- Doctor’s reports showing how the injury limits your ability to perform specific job tasks
- Physical therapy or treatment records showing your pain and treatment plan over time
- X-rays, MRIs or other tests that reveal inflammation or damage
Combining supporting evidence with your personal logs helps create a comprehensive overview of your injury and its cause.
Act fast to secure workers’ comp benefits for an RSI
After gathering initial evidence, a worker must officially notify their employer of the injury. Under Pennsylvania law, failing to provide notice to an employer within 120 days of knowing about an injury like RSI can result in a total loss of the right to compensation.
Proving that an RSI is work-related can be challenging since it is not tied to a single event. Seeking professional guidance can help you gather the documentation you need to fight for the full compensation you deserve.
