Manufacturing work is both physically demanding and relatively dangerous. Professionals have to learn to safely operate heavy machinery, ranging from lathes and mills to machine presses.
They must not only use that machinery competently but also incredibly rapidly. Many production facilities require that workers complete a set number of units or tasks per hour. Rushing on the job can increase the likelihood of mistakes, such as timing errors.
Workers could experience a crush injury if they make an error while operating heavy equipment or are nearby when a coworker makes a mistake. The crush injuries that heavy equipment can cause could effectively end a blue-collar professional’s career.
Crush injuries are hard to treat
Most injured professionals who get hurt on the job might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. They can apply for medical coverage to treat their injuries. They may also be eligible for disability benefits that replace their income or supplement reduced income.
In theory, workers’ compensation can pay for any necessary treatment related to crush injuries. Unfortunately, the functional limitations and nerve damage commonly associated with crush injuries may not ever fully resolve.
Professionals may find that they cannot return to a high-speed, high-risk work environment after sustaining a crush injury. Instead, they may need to move into a lower-paid profession. In such cases, permanent partial disability benefits can help offset the reduction in a professional’s earning potential.
Seeking appropriate workers’ compensation benefits can make all the difference for those with permanent injuries caused by employment. Blue-collar professionals dealing with career-altering injuries often need help understanding their rights and optimizing their benefits, and that’s okay.