Power tools and work machinery can reduce the amount of physical labor required to perform a job. Professionals in manufacturing positions and those who work in construction may have to handle power tools and heavy equipment regularly.
Those devices make their jobs easier and faster. They diminished the strain that blue-collar work imposes on their bodies. However, those same tools also create a secondary source of injury risk. Workers who frequently handle power tools for extended amounts of time may be vulnerable to the development of painful and possibly career-ending injuries.
Vibrations damage the human body
Those who spend much or all of their workday handling power tools and similar equipment are at risk of injury for multiple reasons. Obviously, it only takes a minor mistake with a power tool to cause significant physical trauma. People can unintentionally sever body parts or cause painful lacerations with a mere slip of the hand.
Even the expert control of a power tool isn’t sufficient to protect a blue-collar employee from on-the-job injuries. The vibrations produced by the tools they use at work can cause a variety of painful symptoms. Vibration to the hands and arms, in particular, have a strong association with reduced grip strength and concerning numbness in the hands, forearms and fingers.
In many cases, workers may have to change their job functions to keep from exacerbating their existing injuries. Vibration-related medical issues can force workers to take a leave of absence and to change careers. They may experience permanent functional limitations if they don’t obtain a prompt diagnosis.
While vibration-related injuries do not stem from a single major incident on the job, they do still qualify as work injuries. Employees may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Those benefits can help pay for their treatment and replace their lost wages while they take time off of work. In more serious cases, workers with vibration-related injuries may qualify for permanent partial disability benefits if they have to move into a lower-paid career because of their injuries.
Applying for workers’ compensation benefits can help a blue-collar employee support themselves and their family despite the development of a work-acquired injury. Those who qualify for benefits can receive both financial support and comprehensive medical coverage.