Handling luggage for a living is no easy undertaking. What starts as any other day could end with you hurting, and wondering how you’re going to make a living if you can’t be out there tossing bags.
Whether you’re out on the apron at MSP or staffing the sorting facility, you’re twice as likely to miss work as those in other industries. And when it’s an injury that sidelines you, that could mean losing wages and gaining medical bills. Fortunately, workers’ compensation could cover a lot of the common injuries seen at airports.
Common injuries
Handling bags out on the tarmac is no joke, and countless injuries seem to be waiting for you just around the corner:
- Awkward loads: Luggage can be oddly shaped, and the packers rarely concern themselves with the weight distribution. It can take one throw to seriously injure muscles, tendons and ligaments in your back or neck.
- Falling luggage: With the number of bags you see in a day, you may see a few tumble off the side of a belt or truck. This can be a head injury or broken bone waiting to happen.
- Vehicle accidents: You spend the day with countless airplanes moving all around you, but the real danger could come from ground support like luggage dollies and tank trucks. Vehicles are no stranger to causing spinal injuries, internal organ damage or other severe damage.
- Exposure to weather: While people look on from the warm terminals, you’ll still be doing your job in the dead of winter. Frostbite and hypothermia could have it out for you while you’re performing your day-to-day duties.
What to do
You should report any injuries suffered at work immediately and get proper medical attention. Make sure you take note of how the accident happened, when it happened and what injuries you suffered.
Handling baggage can be a dangerous job. Make sure you’re on the lookout for hazards and know that an on-the-job injury is likely to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
