Loading and unloading commercial trucks requires experience, skill and some natural talent. Accordingly, if you work as a lumper, you probably make a decent wage. Unfortunately, your overall health may also be at risk.
If you sustain a work-related injury when working as a lumper, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. While many different occupational injuries are possible, three specific ones are common among lumpers.
1. Back pain
When loading, unloading and rearranging trucks, you likely bend and twist hundreds of times. While you may expect to have some soreness in your back, chronic back pain may make it virtually impossible to perform your job duties. If your back pain is due to herniated or bulging discs in your spine, reconstructive surgery may be in your not-too-distant future.
2. Rotator cuff tears
Your rotator cuff is a collection of muscles, ligaments and tendons that holds your shoulder bones in place. These soft tissues also facilitate movement, allowing you to raise and lower your arms. If your lumping duties require you to lift heavy objects above your head, you may tear your rotator cuff. With rotator cuff tears, surgery is often necessary to repair damage.
3. Knee injuries
Arranging goods in commercial vehicles probably requires bending your knees repeatedly. Over time, you may sustain damage to the delicate cartilage in your knee that provides critical cushion. With lateral movements, you may also damage the tendons that run on either side of your knee.
Of course, if your lumping duties require crawling, your kneecap may be susceptible to additional injuries. Regardless of the type of injury, if you suffer a serious one, you are likely to spend a significant amount of time out of work.
