Work-related tendonitis is a common and largely under-reported workplace injury that usually falls under the umbrella of musculoskeletal disorders.
Sometimes referred to as "repetitive strain injury", work-related tendonitis typically develops over a long period of time as a result of repeated exposure to certain conditions and movements in the workplace. Pain emanates from the tendons in a joint as the tendon swells following an injury or overuse.
Although initial outbreaks of tendonitis may be episodic and may respond positively to prompt intervention, left unchecked over time, work-related tendonitis may become chronic and result in a severe disorder that causes pain, restricts movement, impairs enjoyment of daily life and reduces a person's earning capacity.
If you have been diagnosed with tendonitis and believe that you have developed the condition as a result of health and safety failures in a workplace in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK, you may be able to claim compensation with Thompsons' work injury lawyers to ensure that you receive sums for pain, suffering, lost earnings and expenses.
The Causes of Work-Related Tendonitis
Work-related tendonitis can develop in many occupational settings, including the office. However, many sufferers of work-related tendonitis can trace the onset and worsening of their condition to work performed in more physically demanding settings – for example, construction, engineering, manufacturing, and warehouse and factory work. Frequent causes of the injury include the following:
- Repetitive movements
- Working in a fixed, constrained or unnatural position
- Force and strain concentrated on particular parts of the body
- Insufficient recovery time between episodes of work
The Statistics
The following statistics were released as part of the Labour Force Survey:
- There were 469,000 musculoskeletal disorders in 2017/18, which accounts for
35% of all workplace injuries in the UK. - Around 6.6 million working days were lost due to workplace musculoskeletal disorders in 2017/18.
- Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are responsible for 24% of all working days lost in the UK.
- There is a general long-term downward trend in the incidence of work-related musculoskeletal injury in the UK.
Work-Related Tendonitis and The Manual Handling Regulations
The term "manual handling" covers any moving, lifting, carrying, lowering, pushing or pulling of items around the workplace.
Although the weight of the load being moved is a factor in the likelihood of manual handling injury, there are other factors that may lead to the development of work-related tendonitis – for example, the number of times the action is repeated, the training the worker has received and the standard of equipment used.
Employers are required by The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR) to manage all risks inherent in manual handling and to make risk assessments, to automate and mechanise processes where possible, and to adopt an ergonomic approach to all potentially hazardous tasks.
Tendinopathy and Flexor Tendonitis
Tendinopathy can present in a similar way to other repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) but will not necessarily have a clear cause. However, if it can be proven on the balance of probabilities that the condition was caused by workplace conditions, it may be possible to claim compensation.
Flexor tendonitis refers to an injury to the flexor tendons which connect the fingers and thumbs to the muscles of the forearms. Overuse of keyboards and factory equipment are two of the most common causes of this injury.
Solicitors for Work-Related Tendonitis Claims
Making a claim for work-related tendonitis can feel like a daunting prospect. However, if you have had a diagnosis of the condition, you can rest assured that Thompsons' experienced workplace injury solicitors have the expertise necessary to help you secure the maximum amount of compensation possible for your work injury.
We are extremely experienced in this type of claim and have the resources at hand to help you make a claim for work-related tendonitis.
We are committed to helping claimants meet all their recovery and any rehabilitation needs. For more information about Thompsons industrial injury solicitors, call us on 0800 0891 331 so we can connect you to your local office.
