{ 2006 06 27 }

Work and Injuries

I have had a couple different chances, in the last year, to evaluate
how my workplace deals with injuries. They make a big deal about
being a great place to work for all people—disabled, gay, ethnic,
female, young, whatever. We have support groups! I think the support
groups are weird, but it’s probably good that we have them.

But, like so many initiatives from On High, it seems like the
bureaucracy isn’t set up to really help people. There’s a pile of
paperwork if you get hurt on the job in a sudden way, like a fall, and
a bureaucratic slalom course to address your issues if you get hurt in
a more subtle way, like RSI/carpal tunnel. Interestingly, the sudden
injury, though in reality less severe, is the one which got the most
attention and care—my manager is apparently really concerned. (I was
hurt at another site, so I have only secondhand information about why
he’s concerned. Rumor says it’s fear of paperwork, but I suspect,
knowing him, he probably is also concerned about my health.) It took
much more effort to get people to care when I needed a keyboard,
keyboard tray, etc.

I wonder what makes an at-work accident more important than an at-work
longterm injury? Maybe it’s just that a sprained ankle is easier to
diagnose and treat than RSI?

Posted by on Tuesday, June 27th, 2006, at 4:52 pm, and filed under katallen.

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