What Are Some Of The Most Common Assembly Line Worker Injuries?

Assembly line workers play a crucial role in the manufacturing of larger products. Auto manufacturers and large appliance companies are just some of the places that employ assembly line workers. Unfortunately, assembly line workers face hazardous work environments. Indeed, automated assembly lines have reduced the number of assembly line injuries, but there are some tasks that a machine cannot perform effectively. For this reason, assembly line workers continue to suffer work-related injuries.

Assembly line workers suffer different types of injuries because of different reasons. In this article, we discuss some of the most common types of injuries assembly line workers suffer and the steps an assembly line worker should take after suffering an injury while at work.

Common Assembly Line Worker Injuries

Every assembly line is different. People in different manufacturing environments perform different tasks. However, the risks assembly line workers face while at work are similar in different manufacturing sectors. Below are some common injuries sustained by assembly line workers;

Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs)

Among the most common injuries sustained by assembly line workers are those that arise due to a worker performing the same movement over and over using the same body part. Repeatedly performing the same task using the same body part can cause damage to the soft tissues and result in significant pain and other health problems.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the RSIs that occurs in assembly line workers. For example, this type of repetitive stress injury can occur in an assembly line worker who spends a lot of time moving items back and forth from the conveyor belt. Another example of repetitive stress injury that occurs in assembly line workers is tendonitis. Tendonitis occurs when there is an excess strain on the tendons, which are connective tissues that connect muscle and bone.

Crush Injuries

These injuries involve limbs or other body parts being crushed by machines or equipment. For example, if an assembly line worker’s hand gets caught in a machine, they may suffer a crushed hand.

Slip and Fall Injuries

In a place such as a food manufacturing plant, assembly line workers work with products that contain liquids. If liquid spills on the floor and it is not wiped, an assembly line worker could slip and fall and suffer serious injuries. Some of the slip and fall injuries that assembly line workers are at risk of suffering include;

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries
• Severe cuts and lacerations

Eye Injuries

An assembly line worker can sustain an eye injury if, for example, a broken machine part ends up in their eye.

Steps Assembly Line Workers Should Take After Suffering Injuries

If you have suffered an injury on an assembly line in Illinois, you may be eligible to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Nonetheless, to increase your chances of recovering the benefits you deserve, there are some steps you need to take. First, you must notify your employer of your injury within 45 days of you suffering the injury. Secondly, you should collect all the evidence you can. You need evidence to support your claim. Lastly, you should contact a qualified workers’ compensation attorney.

Contact a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you have sustained an injury on an assembly line and need help seeking workers’ compensation benefits from your employer, contact a Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Connolly Injury Law.

Source:

ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2430&ChapterID=68