Teaching can be physically demanding. A hallway fall, physical harm during a student incident or pain that builds through repeated tasks can affect your ability to keep teaching and earning a paycheck. Recognizing these conditions can help you connect your symptoms to your job, report them promptly and understand when Minnesota workers’ compensation may apply.
Which injuries commonly affect teachers?
Some injuries happen in one incident, while others develop over time. Common examples include:
- Falls on icy walkways, stairs or wet hallway floors
- Back or shoulder strains from moving furniture or lifting supplies
- Hand, wrist or neck injuries from computer work and grading
- Bruises, sprains or other trauma during student-related incidents
- Knee, foot or back pain from standing or walking for long periods
Even minor pain or physical harm can worsen and make your classroom duties harder.
What should you do after a school injury?
Report what happened to a supervisor immediately. The state’s notice rules use 14-, 30- and 180-day periods. A delay can postpone benefits or create a notice dispute, and notice after 180 days generally comes too late except in limited circumstances. Explain when, where and how it happened, including symptoms that developed gradually. Your employer generally completes a First Report of Injury, the form used to start the claim, and sends it to the insurance company.
Keep copies of medical notes and any limits on your job duties. You can also record when symptoms began, which duties make them worse and whether you miss scheduled shifts or school days. If the insurer accepts the claim, Minnesota workers’ compensation may cover reasonable medical treatment, a portion of your lost wages and, in some cases, rehabilitation services.
Recognize injuries that develop over time
Minnesota calls some conditions caused by repeated job duties Gillette injuries. They develop when small stresses build into a condition that makes it harder to perform the job. Note when symptoms began and which tasks worsen them. If the insurer denies your claim or disputes whether your duties caused the condition, a workers’ compensation attorney can explain the available options.
