Common teacher injuries covered by workers’ comp
While teaching can be a rewarding job helping students grow and learn, it is not without risk of injuries. Teaching can be a physically, emotionally and mentally taxing job — especially as work demands grow.
What are some situations that can cause on-the-job injuries for teachers? And if you do get injured, where can you get the help you need?
Teacher injuries while working
If you are a teacher, injuries in schools happen. Here are a few possible situations teachers may encounter in their day-to-day activities that can lead to injury and how to prioritize teacher safety.
Muscle strain
Teaching involves many repetitive tasks, such as grading papers or making lesson plans. These types of activities can lead to desk injuries, such as tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Some teaching tasks can involve heavy lifting or standing for long periods, which can cause muscle injuries.
The best way to prevent muscle strain from day-to-day activities is to take frequent breaks. Also, be sure you practice proper ergonomics when lifting heavy objects or other work-related tasks.
Slip or fall
Slips and falls can happen in any workplace but are common injuries in schools due to cluttered hallways, spilled food or drinks, or damaged flooring. A fall can cause broken bones, cuts and scrapes, or more serious neck and spinal cord injuries.
While not all accidents can be prevented, keeping floors clean, wiping up spills immediately and being on the lookout for potential hazards can help reduce the risk of these types of teacher injuries.
Using workers’ comp for work injuries
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance paid by your employer that provides benefits if you get sick or injured while at work. Although workers’ comp benefits vary by state, they typically cover medical care, lost wages and death benefits to the family if an employee dies on the job.
For teachers workers’ compensation benefits, be sure to report any injuries immediately to your supervisor or human resources department. Seek treatment for your injuries as soon as possible. Our urgent care partners can help with nonemergency workers’ comp injuries or illnesses.
Visit an urgent care for any work-related injuries in the school system
If you are a teacher and are hurt on the job, visit your local urgent care center. We offer a variety of services to help evaluate, diagnose and treat on-the-job injuries for teachers. Our urgent cares offer X-rays, lab tests and treatment for nonemergency injuries. Just walk in or save your spot online at any of our conveniently located centers.
Our centers are in-network with most insurance providers and offer self-pay options. We are here to help keep teachers safe and healthy, so don’t hesitate to visit a center near you.
References:
By Sarah Thebarge, Physician Assistant on December 26th, 2023
Medically reviewed by J.D Zipkin, MD, MA, FAAP