Airline baggage handling is a very physical job. It requires significant amount of lifting heavy luggage, stacking and transferring. These tasks often leave room for workers to suffer injuries. While there should be significant safety training, especially at a job that is so physically demanding, there are still many injuries that happen.
Studies have shown that daily and chronic pain experienced by baggage handlers is directly related to the amount of time they have worked and how many aircrafts they have handled. This points to significant risks for repetitive motion injuries in the field.
Here are some of the most common injuries that airline baggage handlers experience:
- Back injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome
- Musculoskeletal injuries involving tendons, muscles, ligaments and herniated discs
- Overexertion
- Slip and falls
- Hearing damage from vehicles and planes
- Shift work disorders, sleep issues and insomnia
- Weather-related injuries including heat stroke, frost bite
Repetitive motions, carrying heavy objects unevenly between both hands and lifting luggage improperly can overtime cause significant strain on the body. Not only this, but accidents involving luggage, environmental factors like slippery tarmac and equipment can quickly put an employee out of work.
If you experience injury or pain because of your job as a baggage handler, know that you’re not alone. Many people in this position are hurt and can get compensation for that injury. You can work with your employer and your attorney to make sure that you get what you need to recover from injuries, time lost from work and medical bills.
