Cashier injuries are among the top injuries in the entire retail trade, which may come as a surprise to a lot of people.
Grocery stores and other such places are a major source of employment in the United States, with roughly 2.6 million citizens working for them at any given time. Some reports estimate that these stores have an incident rate of 4.5 for every 100 full-time workers.
For those who are tasked with lifting heavy objects, storing goods, or transporting them, it can be easy to imagine what the potential risks are. However, for cashiers, the risks are not always evident. This type of job is commonly seen as the safest when compared to the other tasked needed in stores but make no mistake, cashiers can get injured too, and quite often.
Common Types of Cashier Injuries
Cashier injuries are among the top injuries in the entire retail trade, which can come as a surprise to a lot of people. However, though they are seen as having a rather static job, there are some common issues cashiers may have to deal with, and most have to do with repetitive stress. Cashiers often work long hours performing the same movements over and over again, which can have serious effects on their health such as:
- Arm injuries – scanning items often requires moving your arm back and forth continuously, which can lead to severe arm damage over time, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve damage, arthritis, or rotator cuff injuries.
- Disc problems – most cashiers don’t have a spine-friendly position. A lot of them have to stand, and slightly bend to pick up the items needed to be scanned, which can cause pain and stiffness in the disc region. If left unchecked, these pains may travel to the legs, feet, or even the neck.
- Pinched nerves – though some of the movements may seem harmless, the issue is what happens over time. Repetitive stress on the same muscles and nerves can sometimes lead to damage, as the muscles become compressed and pinch the nerves, leading to discomfort and pain.
Cashiers are in no way working in a risk-less job. The issue here is that most of their injuries occur after long-term employment and performing the same tasks over and over again. As a result, they need to get regular medical check-ups and not dismiss any sign of pain, as it can lead to complications later on.
Even if their injuries occur after long-term exposure, cashiers still have a legal right to get compensated for their workplace injuries.
What Are Your Options?
If you’ve been injured on the job, even if it’s a result of repetitive stress, get in touch with a Missouri workers comp lawyer as soon as you can. Repetitive stress injuries can, unfortunately, be hard to prove, and you may face an uphill battle with the insurance company to convince them your medical treatment is eligible for workers comp benefits.
With the help of a lawyer, you can succeed. Give us a call 24/7 at (816) 399-3706.