St. Louis Work Injury Lawyer – Help for Injured Hotel Employees

Nearly 90 percent of hotel housekeepers report work-related pain from repetitive stress injuries.

Hotel employees suffer more injuries compared to other service industry workers in the U.S. Housekeepers have a particularly high injury rate primarily because of performing repetitive tasks that strain ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

Common Injuries Suffered by Hotel Employees and Housekeepers

Housekeepers and maids in the hotel industry face a serious risk of suffering injuries such as strains, sprains, and other musculoskeletal injuries. This happens because the work requires continuous stretching, bending, and stooping. Lifting heavy mattresses and changing linens can lead to back problems. According to available statistics, more than 40 percent of the injuries that housekeepers suffer involve the back. Another 35 percent of injuries involve the shoulders and arms.

The Prevalence of Work-Related Injuries

In 2006, a survey of 600 hotel housekeepers was conducted in the United States and Canada. A large percentage of housekeepers and other hotel employees suffered workplace injuries, resulting in pain as a result of the repetitive tasks they performed. 91 percent reported that they suffered work-related pain. Results of the survey included:

• 77 percent of the surveyed workers reported that their pain interfered with daily activities.
• 66 percent visited a doctor to manage pain and another 66 percent had to take pain medication to be able to complete their daily work.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Injured Hotel Employees

It is common for hotel employees who experience pain from musculoskeletal disorders to rely on pain medication to meet the daily quota of work. However, this may ultimately worsen the condition to the point that it causes temporary or permanent disability.

If you work in the hotel industry and have suffered a repetitive stress injury as a result of the tasks you perform at work, report your injury to your supervisor and get proper treatment. Treatment costs for work-related injuries are covered under workers’ compensation. If the doctor recommends time off work to recover from your injury, you may be entitled to disability benefits for the said time period.

An employer may contend that the injury is not work-related, especially if it is a repetitive motion injury. If your work comp benefits are denied, seek legal help from a St. Louis work injury lawyer. Call The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4300. We will help prove that your injury is work-related and make sure that you get the benefits that you rightfully deserve.

Workers & Industry