People who suffer an on-the-job injury will often need medical care so they can have an official diagnosis and receive the treatment they need. Many of these injuries may heal completely so the person is able to return to work.
Some injuries might be more severe. These include injuries that do permanent damage, such as those to the spinal cord, brain, eyes or ears. Individuals who have these injuries may want to return to work as soon as possible, but they may need to have accommodations to do this.
What kinds of accommodations might a person need?
The exact accommodations a person needs so they can return to work depends on the type of injury they have. For example, a person who has a brain injury that affects cognition may need to have step-by-step instructions written out for them so they can follow along. A person with a spinal cord injury may need to be able to sit while they do their job duties. Hearing assistance devices might be necessary for someone returning to work with a hearing loss diagnosis. Employees should work closely with their medical team and their employers to determine what types of accommodations are necessary.
Are there alternatives if accommodations aren’t possible?
If there isn’t any suitable accommodations for the worker, it may be possible for them to receive vocational rehabilitation through workers’ compensation. This enables them to learn a job that they’ll be able to do with their injury.
Getting the benefits they need isn’t always easy for an injured worker. It may be best for them to work with someone familiar with this process so they can get the benefits they’re due.
