Muscular damage is the leading cause of workplace injury claims, study finds

Injuries affecting muscles and bones are the leading cause of work-related injuries according to a recent study. The study, conducted by WorkSafeBC, found that between the years of 2019 and 2023, the organisation had accepted 83,000 time-loss claims for musculoskeletal injuries, with associated costs exceeding £1.5 billion. These injuries also accounted for 30% of all time-loss claims.

An musculoskeletal injury is an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, or blood vessels. Injuries may include sprains, strains, and inflammation, while disorders may include tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Richard Crabtree, Principal Lawyer in our Personal Injury department says: “People often put their bodies under great stress while performing duties at work. Lifting, reaching, repetitive motions – all of these can cause damage or musculoskeletal injuries. If there aren’t proper regulated health and safety preventions in place, it's possible to claim for muscle damage or claim for skeletal damage.”

“Muscle damage claims and skeletal damage claims are common in areas such as health care, construction, public school workers, trades, government, and retail. In cases we’ve seen, the damage can go so far that there is often chronic disability and reduced quality of life where musculoskeletal injuries have occurred.”

The study from WorkSafeBC states that a culture of reporting is crucial, saying that many injuries happen gradually and are only addressed when symptoms become severe enough to require time away from the place of work.

When conducting our own research, we found that three in four construction workers have been injured and yet continue to work through fear of reporting culture within their industry – among fear of losing wages, and ‘being made to feel bad’ for taking time off.

Crabtree continues: “Where office-workers may have the added luxury of working from home if they’re injured or taken ill, those working in construction often either have to face a loss of earnings or go into their place of work sick or injured regardless. This is one of the many reasons that a high number of workers are continuing to work through their injuries, even if that makes the injuries worse long-term.”

Loss of earnings is something that worries many people who have been injured. In a survey we conducted, workers from across the UK say they lose around £1,001-£2,000 when they have time off, and 34% can’t afford to take any monetary loss whatsoever.

While your employer is not obliged to pay you your full wage if you are absent for a prolonged time because of an injury, you may be entitled to statutory sick pay. Our specialist team will assess your claim and provide expert advice specific to your circumstance.

We offer a No Win No Fee funding on workplace incident cases, meaning there's no financial risk to you. We have teams of legal experts who specialise in representing those who have suffered harm in their workplace due to negligence.

Contact us online today or call 03301075056