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Are Baristas At Higher Risk Of Repetitive Stress Injuries?

BY: Koszdin | Friday, February 14, 2020.

Nobody wants to be injured at work. When most people think of work injuries, they think of visible and obvious traumatic injuries that happen in an instant. However, there are other injuries that happen over longer periods of time. These are called repetitive stress injuries (RSIs), and they can be detrimental to a person’s ability to earn a living and enjoy their daily lives. At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, our Los Angeles workers compensation attorneys want to take a look at whether or not baristas who work in coffee houses are more likely to develop repetitive stress injuries at their job.

Understanding How These Injuries Impact Workers

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we know that there were approximately 2.8 million non-fatal workplace injuries or illnesses during the latest reporting year. That number has remained relatively steady over the last few years, but it does not give us a clear picture of what kinds of injuries occur.

Repetitive stress injuries are also frequently called “repetitive motion injuries” or “cumulative motion injuries.” These injuries have often been associated with office workers, with the most common type of RSI being carpal tunnel syndrome.

However, studies have shown that those who work in popular coffee houses like Starbucks are at a higher risk of developing repetitive stress injuries. In a recent article that surveyed 475 coffee workers, it was discovered that 47% of survey takers had experienced upper body repetitive stress injuries that they attributed to their workplace.

This makes sense when we consider the nature of how repetitive stress injuries occur. These injuries happen when a worker repeats the same motion over and over again for long periods of time. This truly defines how barista operates each day. While there may be hundreds of combinations of drinks you can order, your barista is pretty much performing the same motions over and over again with each customer. When we consider that they do this for eight hours every day, five days a week, it is clear that the coffee business is indeed dangerous.

Repetitive stress injuries should always be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, because these injuries often appear gradually, an insurer or employer may try to say that the injury did not occur due to the workplace.

Let Us Help Secure The Compensation You Need

If you or somebody you care about has sustained an injury at work, particularly a repetitive stress injury, you may need legal assistance. At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, we understand that workers’ compensation insurers frequently deny coverage for RSIs. This is not fair for a worker. Our team will investigate your case and work to secure the following compensation:

  • Compensation for any medical bills related to the repetitive stress injury
  • Any lost income and benefits you incur because you cannot work
  • Coverage of any lost future earnings
  • Compensation for loss of earning potential

When you need a Los Angeles workers compensation attorney, you can reach out to us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 800-747-3447.

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