Archive for July, 2025

“Shake it off!”

“Suck it up!”

“Rub some dirt on it!”

Our society has come up with a lot of phrases that tell us we should ignore seemingly minor injuries. Even the moderately helpful advice to “take a deep breath” implies that there’s nothing we really need to do to recover when we get hurt.

The encouragement to ignore injuries seems to be particularly prevalent in the workplace. There’s a culture of toughness that leaves workers feeling like they are weak if they even acknowledge that they feel pain or notice that something unusual happened.  

Unfortunately, ignoring injuries that seem “small” can cause big problems later on. Sometimes that’s because of an apparently minor incident that triggered severe injuries that weren’t obvious right away. Other times, refusing to treat a minor injury causes it to worsen, eventually leading to major health problems. It is absolutely vital for workers to understand the problems that can result when they ignore “small” injuries and the need to report every incident to their employer, no matter how minor it may seem.  

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Believe it or not, every work environment in Pennsylvania puts employees at risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury. That’s because the brain can be injured in a limitless number of ways, often while a worker is doing a routine task they perform multiple times each day.

Most of us recognize that construction workers are at risk of a head injury when they’re up on scaffolding or standing underneath heavy equipment. But an employee filing paperwork in an office is also at risk. Tripping over a loose piece of flooring can lead to a fall that causes your brain to slam into your skull, resulting in injuries even if you haven’t hit your head on anything. Colliding with a door can have a similar effect.

Bumping into an open drawer or the underside of a desk can injure the brain at the site of the impact and result in additional injuries on the opposite side of the brain when it hits the side of the skull.

In these situations, a worker suffering a brain injury may appear fine or slightly “shaken up.” The incident seems minor—there’s no blood, no big fall, no obvious signs of injury. The worker may be embarrassed at making a mistake and downplay any pain they’re experiencing.

Everyone goes back to work as usual.

But the brain injuries suffered in the seemingly minor incident can be a ticking time bomb. Traumatic brain injuries often cause bleeding inside the skull. Signs of injury may be very subtle or even nonexistent at first. Then hours, days, or even weeks later, the injured worker may find that they are confused. They have trouble understanding instructions or concentrating on tasks. 

Instead of associating the problems with the head injury they experienced, they may believe they’re just tired. Co-workers and bosses may think they are slacking off or coming to work high.

What has happened is that the bleeding in the skull is putting a dangerous amount of pressure on the brain. This bleeding causes damage to the brain, and that damage can become permanent and even deadly.

To prevent this, it is important for workers to report every fall, collision, and head impact to their employer and to get an exam from a medical professional who can look for signs of concussion or other brain injuries. Even if the doctor doesn’t diagnose a serious injury right away, they will explain the signs to look for so that you can seek follow-up care immediately if symptoms develop.

Sprains, Strains, and Other Musculoskeletal Disorders

Everyone gets a sore back from time to time, right? Even if that’s true, when your back is hurting, you need to assess the cause and treatment to keep it from getting worse, or you could find yourself with a permanent disability.

A musculoskeletal disorder that affects your muscles, joints, tendons, or nerves can be triggered by a single event, such as lifting a heavy load, or it can develop over time due to repetitive motions or postures in the work environment. It is essential to report pain, weakness, numbness, or other effects as soon as you notice them. 

Prompt reporting can get you medical treatment that prevents injuries from growing worse and allows them to heal. If you ignore symptoms, hoping things will get better, you could find that your pain gets worse, and the delay makes you ineligible for medical treatment and wage benefits through the workers’ compensation program.

Other Seemingly Minor Injuries That Can Lead to Serious Harm

Although numerous types of injuries seem small but can lead to serious consequences, here are some of the most common:

• Blows to the chest or abdomen that lead to internal bleeding
• Cuts that lead to infections that can spread through the body
• Chemical and electrical burns that cause tissue damage that is far worse than it seems
• Inhalation of or other exposure to chemicals that can lead to brain damage
• Heat-related illnesses caused by exertion in excessively hot indoor or outdoor environments

Remember that even an injury that is truly minor can be made worse if you don’t stop to address it.

It is Always “Worth It” to Report an Injury at Work

The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system enables workers to get prompt medical treatment when they are hurt by conditions at work. But injuries should be reported as soon as possible to establish eligibility for medical and other benefits. If you wait longer than 21 days to report the injury, your ability to obtain benefits can be severely limited, and you may be denied benefits altogether if you don’t report the injury within 120 days.

Reporting an injury starts a process that will enable you to receive an exam and start treatment that could prevent the injury from growing worse and can help you obtain maximum benefits available through the workers’ compensation system.

So, swallow your pride. Don’t worry if someone complains or makes fun of you. Report every injury, get a thorough medical exam if you’ve had an accident, and follow the recommendations of the doctor. To get help filing a workers’ compensation claim or if you’ve filed a claim but it has been denied, schedule a free discussion with Vanasse Law to find out how we can help you get the treatment you deserve.  During the day, you can call us at 717-397-1010. Days and evenings, call or text us at 717-471-2168. Or contact us through our website at any time.