Overexertion at the workplace is not uncommon, as many people are trying to get a promotion, a bigger paycheck or are just very invested in their work projects. However, working extra hours on a regular basis can lead to fatigue and fatigue-related injuries.
It might take a long time before your fatigue gets so severe that it impacts your productivity, quality of life and health. But, when it does, it’s important to know when to stop and be aware of your rights as a worker.
Symptoms of Work Fatigue
It’s not always easy to connect fatigue to certain conditions you develop over time. Chronic conditions are more complicated when it comes to filing a workers’ compensation claim, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t demand your rights.
Fatigue-related injuries can manifest as:
- High-stress levels
- Sleeping disorders
- Depression, anxiety
- Digestive problems
- Mood swings
- Decreased productivity
- Eating disorders
If you start noticing signs of fatigue and related injuries, analyze your daily schedule, the amount of sleep and nutrition you are getting, and take actions to decrease your workload. If you identify a direct causality between your symptoms and your work, it may be time to make a claim for compensation.
Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Fatigue-Related Injuries?
Workers’ comp is meant to protect workers from hardship due to work-related injuries and conditions. It is meant as financial aid for those who have their health damaged and are prevented from working as before by the conditions at their job or negligence of a third party.
In the case of fatigue-related injuries, workers’ compensation may cover your medical bills and lost wages, as long as you can prove that your injuries are, indeed, caused by your working conditions.
Working fatigue can directly cause symptoms like the ones described above. However, it can also cause injury indirectly by being a catalyst for car accidents, heavy machinery incidents, slip and falls, and so on.
Speak With a Workers Compensation Attorney
If you plan on filing a workers’ compensation claim for fatigue-related injuries, it’s best to speak with an experienced St. Louis workers compensation attorney. They will be able to gather the necessary evidence to prove that your work was the cause of your injuries, and they will know what you are entitled to as a work injury victim.
What is best to do in this situation is to see your doctor, follow the treatment they give you, stay off work if necessary and speak with an attorney.
And, remember, your condition may not be visible, but if it was caused by your work, then it’s your right to file a claim for compensation.