Age-inclined work related musculoskeletal disorders

Age-inclined work related musculoskeletal disorders

Among all blue-collar jobs such as mining, manufacturing, working in a maintenance team, working in construction is of one of the hardest jobs out there. Labor in construction are said to be oftentimes ordered by their employer to work under rain and winter type of weather conditions, given that they work as well during glaring and extremely hot weather either with or without shade depending on what they were working on. Aside from enduring bad weather conditions during work where it pose a risk for their overall health, they as well face work hazards that are known to deal minor injuries to significant ones such as potential fall from a scaffolding, being struck by falling or objects in motion, electricution, and sharp and blunt objects. In addition, recently, there were construction workers, 10,347 to be exact, who claimed to accumulate work-related musculoskeletal disorders or WMSD said due to overexertion according to report by Harpriya Kaur, PhD along with his colleagues, Harpriya and his team observed the claims from Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation by construction workers in the year span of 10 years from 2007 to 2017. So, what are work-related musculoskeletal disorders? 

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are conditions in which the work environment and performance of work contribute significantly to the condition. The condition is made worse or persists longer due to work conditions where weather conditions and risks involved are two main contributing factors and some are previously mentioned. The latest study has found that people who work in the professions of healthcare, education, social services and construction are more likely to develop a WMSD. Musculoskeletal disorders refers to an injury or overuse issue which causes pain while you're working out and can lead up with long-term medical problems such as:

• Arthritis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis, thoracic outlet syndrome
• Tension neck syndrome 
• Rotator Cuff Tears (painful inflammation around one's shoulder)
• Epicondylitis (inflammation on either elbow)

As an observation to the listed disorders, commonly, work-related musculoskeletal disorders affects limbs and upper extremities, and if one frequently works with legs involved then he might end up suffer WMSD affecting legs and hips. And according to doctors, back problems are caused by habitual activities.

And it appears in a recent study, researchers found that construction workers aged 35 to 44 years old have the highest rates of WMSD claims per 10,000 full-time employees from overexertion. The second most likely claim rate is among those aged 45 to 54 and then for 25-34 year olds. It was also noted in this research that the relationship between age and diagnosis category differed with each group having different incidence results when it comes to their work injury risk factors like occupational hazards or shift schedule demands on body joints. It is a fact that within that ages, they're bones and joints started to loose nutrion such as calcium which is highly needed for stronger bone, that is why they are apparently the ones who filed claims as they are still working rigorously in a grueling work environment that highly exerts their physical capacities which they lack because of age. From recent studies, it is said that these WMSDs worsen overtime proportional with age, peaking among construction workers aging 55 to 64 which is considerably old for working in extremely physical work out there. 

As the U.S. workforce grows older, employers need to be more aware of how age impacts a person’s work environment and safety needs in hazardous industries like construction where workers are often physically demanding or put at risk for injury due to carelessness and oftentimes, employers' negligence. If you are a victim of construction accidents due to either failure of machine and/or structure or maybe an apparent employer's negligence, you can file an injury claim anytime. Ryan LLP is Cleveland’s go-to law firm for construction accidents. Our team of legal experts will walk you through the entire process, giving your case their full attention and fighting until they get you everything that we deserve from it.