You saw it happen, or you noticed them favoring one arm. Here is what the injured worker may need to do, and how you can help them take the next step.
What you may be seeing
There was no big fall. Just a long week of boosting, turning and transfers, and now a colleague reaches for supplies with the other arm. Or you were there when a patient started to go down and they caught them, then said they were fine and kept working.
Coworkers and charge nurses are often the first to notice a shoulder injury, and the first to be asked what to do. You do not need to have the answers about the claim. What helps most is encouraging the right first steps early, while the details are fresh.
The first steps that matter
Encourage them to report the injury to a supervisor in writing as soon as possible and to keep a copy. Colorado has time limits for reporting a work injury, so waiting to see whether it improves can cause problems later. A shoulder worn down by repeated patient handling can still be a work injury; it does not take a single accident.
They should also see a doctor from the list their employer provides for work injuries and explain how the injury happened at work, so the medical record and the report tell the same story.
What you witnessed can help
If you saw the injury happen, or you saw them struggle with tasks afterward, write down what you observed while it is fresh: the date, the shift, the patient task and what you noticed since. Share it if your employer asks for witness information.
You can also help in quieter ways: covering a lift so they do not work outside their restrictions, reminding them to keep copies of everything, and checking in when an appointment, an MRI or a letter about the claim leaves them worried.
When the worry is the paycheck
When someone hears MRI, tear and possibly surgery, the first fear is often lost pay. Workers’ compensation in Colorado can include authorized medical care and partial wage replacement while an injury keeps a worker off the job. The details depend on the claim, which is why it helps to have someone review it.
If their treatment is denied, a letter about the claim is confusing, or they feel pushed back to full duty before the doctor clears them, it may be time for them to talk with a workers’ compensation lawyer. The Law Offices of W. Dan Mahoney, P.C. can talk with them about where the claim stands.
How to help a coworker this week
- Encourage a written injury report today, with a copy they keep.
- Remind them to see a doctor from the employer’s list and to say how it happened at work.
- Write down what you saw, with the date and shift.
- Help them stay within written work restrictions.
- Share this page if they are unsure what comes next.
Frequently asked questions
Will reporting get them in trouble?
Reporting a work injury is a normal part of the workers’ compensation process. A written report records what happened while it is fresh; it is not a complaint about anyone.
Do I need to be involved in their claim?
Usually not beyond sharing what you saw if you are asked. The most useful thing a coworker can do is encourage the early steps and help them follow their restrictions.
When should they call a lawyer?
It can make sense when treatment is denied, a claim letter is hard to understand, pay stops while they are still hurt, or they are pressured to return before they are cleared.
Pages you can share
At home, the family often sees how much a shoulder injury really costs. The next page is for them.