Tips for Documenting Your Tech Workplace Injury

Tips for Documenting Your Tech Workplace Injury

When an employee sustains work-related injuries in the San Jose area, he or she has the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. Sometimes, the relationship between the injury and the job activity is clear, such as when an employee who works with heavy machinery sustains lacerations from the equipment. In the case of tech workplaces, the most common work-related injuries are repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and tenosynovitis. Because repetitive strain injuries develop more gradually than acute injuries and they tend to become progressively worse over time, not all employees will report their symptoms right away. However, to preserve your workers’ compensation rights, it’s important to be proactive about your health.

Be Proactive About Your Health

To be proactive about your health means that you pay attention to your body and actively observe new symptoms as they arise. This is particularly important for repetitive strain injuries that affect tech workers. Try not to be dismissive of unusual symptoms like pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling, especially if they persist longer than a week. See your doctor and explain your typical workplace activities to him or her. Ask if repetitive motions could be responsible for your symptoms.

Submit a Written Report to Your Employer

If your doctor thinks that your symptoms could indeed be related to a workplace injury, submit a written report to your employer or your human resources department. State that you have been injured in the workplace and state your doctor’s diagnosis. You could also consult a workers’ compensation attorney for guidance on the next steps in your case.

Keep Track of All Medical Appointments and Expenses

Take notes at every medical appointment. Write down your doctor’s findings and his or her recommendations. Keep all receipts pertaining to your medical treatment and keep track of the time you miss at work because of your medical appointments or your symptoms.

Maintain a Written Log of Your Symptoms

Keep an ongoing written record of the symptoms you experience every day. Make notes of how severe they are, when new symptoms arise, and how they interfere with your ability to perform your job responsibilities.

Undergo Medical Testing as Recommended