Material Handler and Order Picker Workplace Safety

Order picking and material handling is an important task in most manufacturing industries, and unfortunately, on-the-job injuries are not uncommon. 

Back injuries incurred while lifting are among the most common hazards for order pickers. But order pickers also face risks of other types of injuries, including trips and falls, shoulder, elbow or arm strains, injuries from falling objects, and injuries involving forklifts and other material-handling equipment.

Order pickers and other material handlers should observe the following precautions to avoid the most common types of on-the-job injuries:

• Use material-handling aids, such as hand trucks and four-wheeled carts whenever possible to minimize heavy lifting and carrying. 
• Keep materials and supplies stored at a level between the knees and shoulders. It is much more physically strenuous to lift things from below knee level or from above shoulder height. 
• Slide, push, or pull materials and supplies whenever possible to avoid heavy lifting and carrying. 
• Avoid twisting the body while carrying a heavy object. Ask a co-worker for help when carrying a heavy object. 
• Use both hands when carrying loads and keep the load lose to the body. 
• Rotate heaving lifting duties with lighter work to reduce the wear and tear on the body. 

Many of today’s warehouses also store supplies and materials on high shelving units, sometimes up to 30 feet in height. Employees often perform order picking using operator-up lift trucks, which increases the risk of serious injuries due to a fall. Order pickers working at heights should be equipped with and wear proper fall protection, which usually means a full-body harness with a fixed-length or retractable tether. The working platform should be elevate only when actual order picking is in progress, and employees should understand load capacities and stability requirements of the equipment to avoid tip-over accidents due to overloads or unstable loads. Employees should also watch out for overhead obstructions, and the operator should avoid turning while the platform is elevated with a load to avoid tip-over accidents.

Warehouse or manufacturing order picker or material handler injuries commonly include back injuries, musculoskeletal sprains and strains, and injuries due to falls.

In Minnesota, workers who sustain injuries in the course and scope of their employment may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and permanent partial disability benefits.

If you've sustained an on-the-job injury in Minnesota, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email for a free, no-obligation workers' compensation case evaluation.
 

Minnesota Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be classified in two ways: complete spinal cord injuries and incomplete spinal cord injuries. Complete spinal cord injuries involve injuries to the spinal cord that cause complete loss of voluntary function and sensation below the point of injury. Incomplete spinal cord injuries do not cause complete loss of voluntary function and sensation below the injury.

Thankfully, advancements in modern medicine have reduced the likelihood that a spinal cord injury will be complete. Many spinal cord injury victims do eventually gain some voluntary function and sensation below the point of injury with medical care.

Spinal cord injuries are caused by severe trauma to the spinal cord. These types of injuries can be the result of blunt force trauma, falls, or high speed car accidents.

In Minnesota, if you suffer a spinal cord injury as a result of your work activities, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and medical expense benefits.

If you suffer a spinal cord injury in a car accident due to someone else’s fault or negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages from the at-fault party.

Spinal cord injuries are physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury at work, or as the result of a car accident, a Minnesota workers’ compensation or personal injury attorney can explain your rights, help you through the process of bringing a claim, and help you get the compensation you’re entitled to.

For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email. 

Portable Ladder Safety: Minnesota Workers’ Compensation

Falls from ladders are a leading cause of occupational injury and death. If you sustain injuries as a result of a fall from a ladder at work, in Minnesota, you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including medical benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and rehabilitation benefits.

About 100 people die as a result of falling from a ladder each year, and ladder falls account for approximately 100 thousand injuries every year. Ladder falls most commonly involve injuries to the elbow and forearm, knee and lower leg, and the head. Fractures as a result of ladder falls most commonly involved fractures to the forearm, lower leg and ankle, and ribs, sternum and thoracic spine.

There are things you can do to avoid falls from ladders, including:

• Avoiding electrical hazards by looking for overhead lines before placing a ladder and avoiding metal ladders and equipment. Inspecting the ladder before use. 
• Don’t use damaged ladders. 
• Don’t use the top step or rung of a ladder unless it was designed for that purpose. 
• Don’t use self-supporting ladders as a single ladder or in a closed position, i.e., don’t lean a closed step ladder up against the side of a house. 
• Use a ladder on stable and level surfaces, or secure it at the top or bottom to avoid movement.
• Don’t place a ladder on top of boxes, barrels, or other unstable objects to obtain additional height. 
• Don’t move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on the ladder. 
• Be sure that all locks on an extension ladder are properly engaged. 

For more safety tips, check out OSHA’s Portable Ladder Safety Quick Card. If you’ve sustained injuries as a result of a ladder fall at work, contact Meuser & Associate for a FREE, NO-OBLIGATION case evaluation to learn about your Minnesota workers’ compensation rights.

Call us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Avoid Ladder Disasters: Minnesota Workers’ Comp.

According to OSHA, falls account for more than 16 percent of workplace injuries and almost 13 percent of all workplace deaths. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 532,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, and clinics in 2007 after falling off a ladder. Unfortunately, injuries that occur as a result of a fall from a ladder are often severe.

The nature and extent of injuries that occur as a result of ladder falls depends on the distance of the fall, what parts of the body hit the ground first, the position of your body parts when you fall and land, and the type of surface you land on.

Ladder falls can result in serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, or herniated discs. Sometimes these injuries can be life-changing.

There are things you can do to prevent falls from ladders.

Always inspect a ladder before use. Make sure ladder rungs are in place, intact, free from slippery substances, and have slip resistant surfaces. Make sure support braces, bolts, and screws are in place and tight. Make sure metal parts are lubricated. Inspect rope and check for wear or fraying. Ensure that spreaders or locking devices are in place. Check for splinters or sharp edges. Check to ensure that safety feet are in place. Check for dents and bends in metal ladders.

Select the right ladder for the job. I-A (heavy duty) ladders can hold up to 300 pounds, including the worker and his or her equipment. I (heavy duty) ladders can hold up to 250 pounds including a worker and equipment. II (medium duty) ladders can hold 225 pounds, and III (light) ladders can only hold up to 200 pounds. In addition, a stepladder should be no more than 20 feet high, a one-section ladder should be no more than 30 feet high, and an extension ladder can go up to 60 feet, but the sections must overlap.

Set up ladders properly. Ladders should be placed on a level surface, and wide boards should be used beneath the ladder on soft ground. A ladder’s feet should be parallel with the surface the ladder is resting against. The ladder should be extended so there are at least three feet above the top support. The top of the ladder should be anchored, and the bottom should be tied or held. A ladder should not be rested on a window or window sash, and should not be placed in front of a door. The distance from the base of the ladder to the wall should be one-fourth of the ladder. Extension ladders should be positioned before being extended.

Be safe while working on ladders. One person on a ladder at a time. Wear shoes with non-skid soles. Face the ladder while climbing up or down, and hold the rails with both hands. Carry tools up or down on a belt or with a rope or hoist, not in your hands. Keep one hand on the ladder while you work. Don’t step on the top two stepladder steps or top four ladder rungs. Keep your body centered on the ladder. Don’t move a ladder while you’re on it. Move slowly and cautiously while working on the ladder.

For more great ladder safety tips, visit Safety Daily Advisor.

If you’ve sustained injuries as a result of an on-the-job fall from a ladder in Minnesota, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits include medical expenses, wage loss benefits, rehabilitation benefits, and permanent partial disability benefits.

For a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your Minnesota workers’ compensation rights, contact attorney Jen Yackley or Ron Meuser at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Got questions about MN workers' comp? Visit our Minnesota Workers' Compensation FAQ!

Common Minnesota Construction Injuries and Work Comp

As the weather starts to warm up here in Minnesota, construction season is going to get into full swing. Unfortunately, with more construction comes more construction worker injuries.

Some of the most common and most severe construction worker injuries we see in our Minnesota workers’ compensation practice include:

Head injuries. Construction-related head injuries can be caused by slip and falls, trip and falls, motor vehicle accidents, falling equipment or materials, blunt force trauma and many other things, and can result in closed-head injury, traumatic brain injury, concussion, coma, or even death.

Repetitive motion injuries. Repetitive motion injuries are also known as cumulative trauma injuries, or Gillette-type injuries in Minnesota workers’ compensation. They can include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, trigger finger, epicondylitis, degenerative disc disease, cervical or lumbar herniations, meniscus tears, and many other conditions. These types of injuries occur over time and are usually the result of a combination of muscle tension, repetitive motions, over use, and incorrect posture.

Spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord controls every function of the human body. A spinal cord injury can be devastating. Spinal cord injuries can cause a variety of disabilities, including loss of sensation or function, A severe spinal cord injury can cause devastating disability, paralysis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, or even death.

Crush and amputation injuries. Equipment used in the construction trades is meant to cut and shape wood, metal, concrete, and other materials. When the human body comes into contact with these types of tools and machines, the results can be devastating, including traumatic or surgical amputation, loss of function, and disfigurement.

Burn injuries. Construction workers are surrounded by burn risks on a job site, including hot water, steam, chemicals, explosions, and electricity. Burn injuries are terribly painful, and can result in loss of function and disfigurement.

Broken bones and dislocated joints. Fractures can occur as a result of trip and falls, slip and falls, dropped equipment or materials, motor vehicle collisions, or a variety of other accidents. Dislocations usually occur when a joint is suddenly moved beyond its normal range of motion. These types of injuries can cause severe disability and loss of range of motion.

Eye injuries. Construction sites are eye injury hazards, ranging from chemicals, to wood and metal chips, to tools like nail guns or staplers. Eye injuries that cause blindness or impair a workers’ vision can be devastating.

Herniated discs. Herniated discs in the low back or neck are probably the most common construction worker injury we see in our workers’ compensation practice. They can be caused by almost any kind of trauma – overuse, lifting, twisting, falls, contact with objects, and motor vehicle collisions. They can also be severely disabling.

Construction worker injuries also raise a number of unique issues in workers’ compensation law, including determining whether the injured worker is an independent contractor, which contractor is responsible for workers’ compensation insurance coverage, and whether there is a third party liability claim.

Unfortunately, construction worker injuries can be some of the most contentious types of workers’ compensation claims. If you’ve sustained an injury as a result of a construction accident in Minnesota, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Make sure you get all the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. Don’t let a construction injury ruin your life. Contact us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our workers’ compensation lawyers.

Visit us at MeuserLaw.com to learn more about Minnesota workers' compensation.

Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls at Work

Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common causes of work-related injuries. Slips, trips, and falls can cause bruises, broken bones, sprains and strains, back or neck injuries, and even head injuries. Falls from heights can also be deadly.

According to OSHA, slips, trips, and fall account for the majority of all general industry. The injuries sustained in slips, trips, and falls can be serious. In fact, 15 percent of all accidental deaths are caused by slips, trips, falls. These types of injuries are also costly. In 2006, injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls caused 234,450 lost workdays, and cost U.S. businesses $11.6 billion in medical costs and the cost of lost workdays.

Most slip, trip, and fall accidents are also preventable. According to OSHA, “[t]here are many situations that may cause slips, trips, and falls, such as ice, wet spots, grease, polished floors, loose flooring or carpeting, uneven walking surfaces, clutter, electrical cords, open desk drawers and filing cabinets, and damaged ladder steps. The controls needed to prevent these hazards are usually obvious, but too often ignored, such as keeping walkways and stairs clear of scrap and debris; coiling up extension cords, lines, and hoses when not in use; keeping electrical and other wires out of the way; wearing lug soles in icy weather; clearing parking lots, stairs, and walkways in snowy weather; and using salt/sand as needed.”

At minimum, OSHA requires that all areas where employees work or travel must be kept clear of hazards. Every floor, work area, and passageway must be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards. These surfaces must be clean and free of hazards that could interfere with normal activities.
University of Florida researchers discovered a number of activities that are more likely to lead to slips, trips, and falls, including:

• Walking too fast or running
• Getting distracted
• Not watching where one is going
• Carrying materials that obstruct view
• Wearing sunglasses in low-light areas
• Failure to use handrails

To avoid slips, trips, and falls at work:

• Pay attention to where you’re going and what’s in the way.
• Walk, don’t run.
• Wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles.
• Keep aisles, stairs, and walkways clear of tools, materials, cords, etc.
• Fix or report broken flooring, stair rails or steps, ladders and burned-out lights.
• Clean up leaks and spills promptly.
• Block off and mark floor areas being cleaned or repaired.
• Dispose of trash promptly and properly.
• Close drawers.
• Stay away from dock and platform edges.
• Walk slowly, sliding your feet, on slippery surfaces.
• Avoid wearing baggy pants you could trip over.
• Use a ladder rather than chairs or boxes to reach high places.
• Don’t carry loads you can’t see over, especially on stairs.
• Don’t jump on or off platforms and loading docks.

We see injuries as a result of slips, trips, and falls on a regular basis in our Minnesota workers’ compensation practice. Remember, in order to be covered by workers’ compensation, your injury must arise out of, and occur in the course and scope of your employment. There must be some relationship between your work and the slip, trip, or fall, and any subsequent injuries. On occasion, the workers’ compensation insurance company will try to deny an employee’s claim where the reason or the slip, trip, or fall isn’t clear. They will sometimes try to suggest that you tripped over your own feet, tripped on your own shoelace, or were just clumsy. Even if that is the case, if you sustained injury because of something in the work environment, it is still a compensable injury. For example, even if you tripped over your own shoelace, if you sustained a head injury because you struck your head on a work stool on the way down, it’s a compensable injury.

If you’ve sustained an injury at work because of a slip, trip, or fall, you may be entitled to Minnesota workers’ compensation injuries, including medical expenses, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and rehabilitation benefits. Make sure you get the benefits you are entitled to! Contact Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyers.