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OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMONITIS AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Edward Singer

There are a variety of lung diseases that may have occupational components. One of these lung diseases is Pneumonitis. If a Worker succumbs to Pneumonitis, and there is an occupational component as to its cause, they would be able to file and pursue a workers’ compensation claim to obtain medical treatment and monetary benefits for their lung condition.

This article will discuss Pneumonitis, how it can be work-related, and a discussion of various caselaw that addressed issues relating to the disease.

What Pneumonitis? Is It the Same as Pneumonia?

Pneumonitis is a medical condition which involves the inflammation of lung tissue.

The medical disease Pneumonia is essentially a subset of Pneumonitis. It is an inflammation of the lungs caused by an infection.

What Are the Symptoms of Pneumonitis?

Symptoms of Pneumonitis can include difficulty breathing and a dry, nonproductive, cough. If the condition progresses to Chronic Pneumonitis, symptoms can also include fatigue, loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss. Mayo Clinic.

Are There Degrees of Pneumonitis?

Yes. There are varying degrees of Pneumonitis. The degrees are Acute, Subacute and Chronic.

Pneumonitis is very serious. If it goes unnoticed or untreated can cause irreversible lung damage.

What Tests and Treatments are there for Pneumonitis?

Pneumonitis is a complex medical condition. Therefore, a thorough evaluation by a specialist is recommended. This specialist will conduct the physical examination and order testing.

The testing with respect to Pneumonitis can include blood tests, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), chest x-rays, computed tomography (CT), inhalation challenge tests lung biopsies, lung function tests, and precipitin tests. Mayo Clinic.

How Is Pneumonitis Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of the condition can be complicated. It can take a long time to diagnose. In writing this blog, this matter must be deferred to a specialist without further comment.

The diagnosis of HP in general remains often challenging as there is no gold standard test and the diagnosis is made from a combination of procedures. In addition, the diagnosis of OHP requires ascertaining the work relatedness of the disease with a high level of confidence. A multidisciplinary approach, including clinicians, radiologists, pathologists, and occupational physicians/hygienists, is strongly recommended to improve the diagnosis of OHP, as demonstrated for IPF Quirce S, Vandenplas O, Campo P, Cruz MJ, de Blay F, Koschel D, Moscato G, Pala G, Raulf M, Sastre J, Siracusa A, Tarlo SM, Walusiak-Skorupa J, Cormier Y. Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis: an EAACI position paper. Allergy. 2016 Jun;71(6):765-79. doi: 10.1111/all.12866. Epub 2016 Mar 11. PMID: 26913451.

What is Occupational Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (OHP)?

“Based on the key features of the disease that were outlined by previous authors 4–11 and the EAACI nomenclature for allergic diseases 12, the following consensus definition is proposed: ‘OHP is an immunologic lung disease with variable clinical presentation and outcome resulting from lymphocytic and frequently granulomatous inflammation of the peripheral airways, alveoli, and surrounding interstitial tissue which develops as the result of a non‐IgE‐mediated allergic reaction to a variety of organic or low molecular weight agents that are present in the work environment’. Quirce S, Vandenplas O, Campo P, Cruz MJ, de Blay F, Koschel D, Moscato G, Pala G, Raulf M, Sastre J, Siracusa A, Tarlo SM, Walusiak-Skorupa J, Cormier Y. Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis: an EAACI position paper. Allergy. 2016 Jun;71(6):765-79. doi: 10.1111/all.12866. Epub 2016 Mar 11. PMID: 26913451.

What Is the Treatment for the Condition?

Treatment for some medical conditions is not just medical care.

In the case of Pneumonitis, one of the forms of treatment is avoidance of harmful exposure. This can include the removal of causative substances, the replacement of products that have the causative substances, changes in work that will avoid exposures to the causative substances, and avoidance in general of known sources of the causative substances.

Treatments can include corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants. Treatment can include oxygen therapy, bronchodilators, opioids, and lung transplants. Mayo Clinic.

In viewing the range and scope of treatments, it is fair to say that Pneumonitis should be viewed as a serious medical condition.

What Are the Causes of Pneumonitis? What Are Occupational Causes of Pneumonitis?

Common causes of pneumonitis include airborne irritants at your job or from your hobbies. In addition, some types of cancer treatments and dozens of drugs can cause pneumonitis.

With respect to work-related exposure, “A large number of occupational agents/antigens have been described as potential causative agents of HP in a wide variety of occupations. These offending agents can be classified into six broad categories that include bacteria, fungi, animal (glyco) proteins, plant (glyco) proteins, low molecular weight chemicals, and metals (Table 2). Using a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model, it was found that chemicals causing OHP tend to have a higher predicted asthma hazard, are more lipophilic, and are more likely to be protein cross‐linkers than those causing occupational asthma .” Quirce S, Vandenplas O, Campo P, Cruz MJ, de Blay F, Koschel D, Moscato G, Pala G, Raulf M, Sastre J, Siracusa A, Tarlo SM, Walusiak-Skorupa J, Cormier Y. Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis: an EAACI position paper. Allergy. 2016 Jun;71(6):765-79. doi: 10.1111/all.12866. Epub 2016 Mar 11. PMID: 26913451.

What Types of Occupations That Are At Risk of Pneumonitis?

The following are occupations that may be at risk for the disease: aircraft industry, animal feeding, bagasse workers [slaughterhouse], bird breeders, ceramic workers, cheese workers, chemical and polyurethane industry, compost workers, cork workers, cosmetic industry, dental technicians, farmers, florists, food processors, hard metal workers, humidifiers, laboratory workers, maple bark strippers, malt workers, mushroom workers, painters, paprika slicers, pearl industry, peat moss processors, pharmaceutical industry, plastic industry, plastic workers, potato riddlers, seaweed workers, smelters, stucco workers, textile workers, tobacco growers, wine makers, wood workers, and yacht manufacturing. Quirce S, Vandenplas O, Campo P, Cruz MJ, de Blay F, Koschel D, Moscato G, Pala G, Raulf M, Sastre J, Siracusa A, Tarlo SM, Walusiak-Skorupa J, Cormier Y. Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis: an EAACI position paper. Allergy. 2016 Jun;71(6):765-79. doi: 10.1111/all.12866. Epub 2016 Mar 11. PMID: 26913451.

Is There An Alternative Theory of Industrial Causation for Pneumonitis?

Yes. Radiation treatment has been considered as a source of this disease.

Treatment for an industrial injury can give rise to a work injury claim. Thus, if there is a work-related medical condition that involves radiation treatment, they may possibly be able to pursue a claim. This may be the case with cancers such as lung or breast.

Is There Any Caselaw Concerning Pneumonitis?

Yes. There have been a variety of cases with respect to the disease.

The pneumonia presumption for safety and law enforcement officers was found to not apply in the case of pneumonitis. As noted above, pneumonia is a subset of the disease.

Pneumonitis was found work-related for a meat cutter. The WCAB panel determined that the applicant developed compensable hypersensitivity pneumonitis while working as a meat cutter. See Costco Wholesale Corp vs. WCAB (2010) 75 C.C.C. 1187 (writ denied.)

What if I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

EVEN TREATERS GET INJURED AT WORK: OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS SUSTAINING INDUSTRIAL INJURIES: MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Edward Singer

Occupational and Physical Therapists play a large role in helping Injured Workers recover from their industrial injuries. In doing so, however, Occupational and Physical Therapists may be placing themselves at risk for sustaining a work injury. More specifically, both Occupational and Physical Therapist’s work activities can place them at risk for sustaining musculoskeletal disorders. These musculoskeletal disorders can include back problems, shoulder problems, and wrist problems.

The article will discuss Occupational and Physical Therapists, what activities they perform on the job that may be injurious to them, and the rates of injuries that occur for Occupational and Physical Therapists.

What is an Occupational Therapist (OT)?

Per the American Occupational Therapy Association, “occupational therapists …help people… participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations.)”

OT Programs can include “an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals, [a] customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.”

What is a Physical Therapist (PT)?

Per the American Physical Therapy Association, “[p]hysical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.”

“Physical therapists examine each person and then develops a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability.”

What is the Difference Between an Occupational and Physical Therapists?

The Occupational Therapist focuses on the patient’s ability to perform work-related functions. The Physical Therapist focuses on physical activities in general.

What Are The Work Activities That Are Injurious to OTs and PTs?

Transfers/Lifts and manual therapy have been found to be associated with musculoskeletal disorders. “Darragh AR, Campo M, King P. Work-related activities associated with injury in occupational and physical therapists. Work. 2012;42(3):373-84. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1430. PMID: 22523031; PMCID: PMC3839086. These activities have been found to impact the lumbar spine. Supra.

Patient handling activities include (transfers, repositioning and patient lifting. Supra.

Manual therapy includes soft tissue work, joint mobilization, and orthopedic techniques. Supra.

Manual Therapy was found also found as a risk factor consistent risk factor for both injuries as well as gradual onset of WSMDs. Supra. In workers’ compensation terms, this would be considered as a cumulative trauma injury.

With Respect to Musculoskeletal Disorders? Is There Any Difference Between OTs and PTs?

No. “Occupational (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) have substantial and similar rates of work-related injury (WRI), musculoskeletal pain and musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD)” Darragh AR, Campo M, King P. Work-related activities associated with injury in occupational and physical therapists. Work. 2012;42(3):373-84. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1430. PMID: 22523031; PMCID: PMC3839086.

“Darragh et al. reported an annual WRI incidence rate among OTs and PTs of 16.5 and 16.9 per 100 full-time workers, respectively.” Darragh AR, Campo M, King P. Work-related activities associated with injury in occupational and physical therapists. Work. 2012;42(3):373-84. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1430. PMID: 22523031; PMCID: PMC3839086.

What Are Injury Rates for Activities? What Do Therapists Think Are the Causes of Their Injuries?

“Manual therapy and transfers/lifts accounted for more than half of all injuries (54.0%), across all practice areas.” Supra. “Manual therapy was the greatest proportion of injuries to the wrist and hand (69.1%).” Supra. “Transfer and lifting activities were associated with 26.6% of injuries Over half of these injuries were to the low back (53.0%), followed by the shoulder (19.7%) and the head/neck (18.2%).” Supra. “Other activities associated with injury included environmental and equipment interactions (10.9%), multiple activities (6.5%) and patient falls (5.7%)”

What Do Therapists Think of How They Get Hurt?

Therapists opine that force, awkward posture, repetitive motion, sustained posture, and fatigue were factors contributing to those type of injuries. Supra.

For wrist and hand injuries, therapists opine that repetitive motion (experienced during joint mobilizations and range of motion activities), force (experienced during range of motion, soft tissue work, and joint mobilizations), awkward posture and sustained posture were factors contributing to those type of injuries. Supra.

For transfer and lifting activities, opined that “these injuries occurred both gradually because of repeated performance of transfers over time and more suddenly when a patient behaved in an unexpected way (grabbed the therapist, stumbled, or moved in an unexpected direction.) The majority of therapist identified force (72.7%;48/66), including overexertion and lifting, and awkward posture (54.5%; 36/66) as the primary contributing factors to their transfer injuries.” Supra.

What if I Need Advice?

STRESS AND INJURED WORKERS: INJURED WORKERS WITH DIFFICULTIES POST WORK-INJURY AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Edward Singer

This article is to discuss injured Workers’ stressors and a recent study on the matter. Prior to reviewing the study, I took it upon myself to list the stressors based upon my 28 years of representing Injured workers. The following is my assessment of stressors for Injured Workers while they are pursuing their claims are as follows:

Dealing with medical facilities and doctors
Being out of work
Dealing with your employer
Dealing with insurance
Dealing with attorneys
Dealing with litigation
Dealing with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board

Wow! Injured Workers have a lot of stressors!

As I indicated, a study was recently done which sheds some additional light on the stressors of injured workers. Is my assessments correct? Are there other items of concern?

Are Injured Workers Stressed Out?

Yes. The study found that the “[t]he prevalence of psychological distress among workers’ compensation claimants is high.” Collie, A., Sheehan, L., Lane, T.J. et al. Psychological Distress in Workers’ Compensation Claimants: Prevalence, Predictors and Mental Health Service Use. J Occup Rehabil 30, 194–202 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09862-1

What Did the Study Find as Being Stressors?

Severe psychological distress, being off work, worse general health and requiring support during claim were most strongly associated with greater odds of service use. Collie, A., Sheehan, L., Lane, T.J. et al. Psychological Distress in Workers’ Compensation Claimants: Prevalence, Predictors and Mental Health Service Use. J Occup Rehabil 30, 194–202 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09862-1

Are Injured Workers more stressed out than other People?

Yes. According to the Study, it was found. Collie, A., Sheehan, L., Lane, T.J. et al. Psychological Distress in Workers’ Compensation Claimants: Prevalence, Predictors and Mental Health Service Use. J Occup Rehabil 30, 194–202 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09862-1

What Were the Factors that the Study Found as Stressful?

The study found “being off work, poor general health, low work ability, financial stress, stressful interactions with healthcare providers and having diagnosed mental health conditions had the strongest associations with presence of psychological distress Collie, A., Sheehan, L., Lane, T.J. et al. Psychological Distress in Workers’ Compensation Claimants: Prevalence, Predictors and Mental Health Service Use. J Occup Rehabil 30, 194–202 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09862-1

One additional item that came out of the study that caught me by surprise that Injured Workers with prior psychological issues are susceptible to increased stress.

Can an Injured Worker Claim This Stress as Part of Their Claim?

With changes in the law, psychiatric injury claims are limited. Further, stress resulting from litigation is mostly considered as non-industrial. In certain limited facts, stress may be claimed. It is a factual inquiry.

Is There Case Law Re: Stress from Litigation?

Yes. The Courts have found that a psychiatry injury caused as a result of the litigation process is not work-related. Rodriguez v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd. (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 1747 [27 Cal.Rptr.2d 93]. There are some limited exceptions. See Patrick v. Marina City Club, 2010 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS 19 (carrier misconduct as the basis for stress)

What Should An Injured Worker Do?

Injured Workers should approach matter on multiple levels. One level is to seek medical attention and/or counseling for one’s stress. Another level is to address the situations that are causing the stress. This can include changing doctors, getting an attorney, addressing the employment situation is a substantial way and perhaps opening up to a friend or family member to get this stress off their chest. Also, if you are unrepresented, contacting the Information and Assistance Officer at the local WCAB may be helpful. Also, your company may may have an Employee Assistance Program which can help as well.

In sum, if an Injured Worker is having stress, there is help and solutions out there. Don’t try to go it alone.

What if I Need Advice?

What You Should Know About Therapy for Injured Workers

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Edward Singer

Workers’ Compensation Medical Treatment is special. Unlike Traditional Medicine, Industrial Medical Treatment has unique goals. Treatment for industrial injuries is of statutory construct. In other words, the Government has made special rules and regulations with respect to Injured Workers’ treatment.

California Workers’ Compensation Law, pursuant to Labor Code Section 4600(a), has the overall goal of industrial medical treatment to provide what is “reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the worker’s injury, ” This goal is further refined by statute and regulations.

Within this construct, there are other goals with respect to Injured Workers’ medical treatment. One of the most important goals of Industrial Medicine is to get the Injured Worker “back to work.”

The term “Back to Work” has many meanings. “Back to Work” can mean getting the Injured Worker back to the job they had when they got injured. “Back to Work” can mean that the Injured Worker can mean that there is a return to a modified position. “Back to Work” can mean that the Injured Worker is returned to an alternative position. “Back to Work” can mean that the Injured Worker is returned to a state upon which they are able to participate in a vocational rehabilitation program. In sum, “Back to Work” means returning an Individual back to the open labor market.

Work Hardening is a form of therapy that can assist with “Back to Work” issues.

This article will discuss the nature of “Work Hardening,” why Insurance Companies should encourage this treatment, and why Injured Workers should participate in such program programs.

What is Work Hardening?

Work Hardening is a form of “Occupational Therapy.”

“Work Hardening is an interdisciplinary, individualized, job specific program of activity with the goal of return to work. Work Hardening programs use real or simulated work tasks and progressively graded conditioning exercises that are based on the individual’s measured tolerances. Work hardening provides a transition between acute care and successful return to work and is designed to improve the biomechanical, neuromuscular, cardiovascular and psychosocial functioning of the worker.” Washington State Department of of Labor and Industries.

What Are the Goals of Work Hardening?

The Goals of Work Hardening include Improvement of Vocational Feasibility, Improvement of Employability, and Decrease in Vocational Handicap. Work Hardening: Occupational Therapy in Industrial Rehabilitation Leonard N. Matheson; Linda Dempster Ogden; Kris Violette; Karen Schultz American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May 1985, Vol. 39, 314-321. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.39.5.314

What Happens in a Work Hardening Program?

Work Hardening Programs work on the Injured Worker’s strength and endurance, they set goals, and they work on simulation of work tasks. Throughout the process, their progress is monitored to see if there is improvement.

Who Benefits from Work Hardening Programs?

“Experience shows that the clients who experience the greatest benefit from work hardening programs are those who are seriously deconditioned after an impairment caused by an injury or disease. In addition, people who have major discrepancies between their symptoms and objective findings and individuals whose impairment is limited to the dominant upper extremity substantially benefit from work hardening. “ Work Hardening: Occupational Therapy in Industrial Rehabilitation Leonard N. Matheson; Linda Dempster Ogden; Kris Violette; Karen Schultz American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May 1985, Vol. 39, 314-321. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.39.5.314

In sum, this observation means that individuals who have been off of work for a significant period of time benefit from work hardening. Deconditioning can occur when an individual has been off of work for a while. Also, there may be deconditioning from a severe injury which causes an immediate incapacity to perform physical activities. Delays and denials of medical treatment can further contribute to deconditioning.

Further, individuals with major discrepancies between symptoms and objective findings may have anxiety and emotional issues with respect to engaging in physical activities. Work Hardening can provide confidence to these workers with respect to their abilities to exert themselves without the fear of re-injury.

How Does an Injured Worker Get in a Work Hardening Program?

All medical treatment in the California Workers’ Compensation System requires that a Treating Physician issue a Request For Authorization(RFA) for a “work hardening” program. An RFA request is subject to Utilization Review (UR) If UR denies authorization, the denial can be appealed for an Independent Medical Review.

What Have Independent Medical ReviewI Decisions Said Concerning “Work Hardening”?

There is common language which is used repeatedly within IMR Decisions with respect to the authorization of such treatment.

The IMR Decisions state as justification that “[t]here is a known etiology to the chronic pain syndrome or specific clinical condition which includes physical injury or disease. Other appropriate medical and/or invasive care has been attempted and proved to be inadequate to restore functional status. The patient has appropriate rehabilitation potential (i.e., he or she is judged to be able to substantially benefit from the program). The patient is not responding to less costly interventions including quality physical therapy programs; The patient has at least some behavioral or psychosocial issues affecting their recovery. For workers without behaviorally related issues and merely a physical gap between the current capabilities and future job requirements, work conditioning/work hardening programs are usually both more appropriate and cost effective.
The patient has substantial gaps between current physical capabilities and actual or projected occupational demands. There are no known contraindications to the treatment program, e.g., certain unstable medical conditions, primary substance abuse disorder or cognitive limitation which would prevent appropriate learning. The patient is committed to recovery.” 85 Cal. Comp. Cases 451 CM19-0133693, 85 Cal. Comp. Cases 446 CM19-0130002; 84 Cal. Comp. Cases 470, CM19-0021422 [emphasis added]

In sum, IMR Decisions provide several hurdles before such a program will be authorized. Therefore, it is important that the Injured Worker participate in traditional physical therapy programs prior to attempting to get authorization for a Work Hardening Program.

Why Should an Injured Worker Participate in “Work Hardening”?

There are many reasons why an Injured Worker should participate in a Work Hardening Program. First, the Work Hardening Programs can assist the Injured Person back to workplace. Second, Work Hardening Programs have been found to cut down on absenteeism post return to work. Schonstein E, Kenny DT, Keating JL, Koes BW. Work conditioning, work hardening and functional restoration for workers with back and neck pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD001822. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001822. Third, the participation in a Work Hardening Program with failed results may be considered as credible evidence of inability to compete in the open labor market. Fourth, failure to participate in a Work Hardening Program may be viewed negatively as to the Injured Worker’s intentions and abilities.

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BODY ARMOR, WORK INJURIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT: POLICE OFFICERS, SHERIFFS AND INJURIES DUE TO EQUIPMENT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Posted on October 11, 2020 by Edward Singer

Law Enforcement Officers are required to carry various items as part of their job duties. Equipment, such as Duty Belts, have been recognized as being damaging to the lumbar spine. Due to that fact, the State of California has enacted a Back Injury Presumption for with respect to Law Enforcement Officers who wear duty belts.

Besides Duty Belts, there is other Law Enforcement equipment that has become implicated as to causing physical injury. One of these items is Body Armor. Body Armor has become popular for Law Enforcement to wear to protect them. Body Armor, however, can be physically restrictive. This restrictiveness can be a source of musculoskeletal injury. It should be noted that this Body Armor can be life saving for officers. Police Officers: Surviving a real life-threatening incident while wearing body armor Xiong, Houawa 2014 May URI: https://scholarworks.csustan.edu/handle/011235813/703 (in thesis data, all 24 officers studied survived life-threatening incidents and were able to to return to full duty after the incidents.)

This article will discuss Law Enforcement Officers’ use of Body Armor, the problems with respect to such equipment, and whether it has been found to cause physical problems.

What Is Body Armor?

There are different types of body armor. There is body amor that is designed for military use. Also, there is a different body armor that is designed with respect to Law Enforcement. This different body armor is called Light Armor. The armors of the light variety care called Individual Light Armor Vests or ILAVs.

Are There Any Studies Concerning Light Armor Vests?

Yes. A recent study compared ILVAs versus Normal Station Wear.

What are the Problems with Light Body Armor?

“Wearing body armour has also been found to compromise trunk posture (Phillips et al., 2016) and reduce range of motion in multiple planes (Lenton et al., 2016). Axial trunk rotation has been shown to be reduced by up to 12° when wearing military-styled body armour (Lenton et al., 2016). A generalized increase in trunk and hip forward flexion during tasks has also been associated with wearing body armour (Lenton et al., 2016; Phillips et al., 2015). The effects of both a forward trunk posture and any compromise in trunk or shoulder mobility may further affect an officer’s ability to compensate for any balance compromise and put them at greater risk of falls and subsequent injury (Dempsey et al., 2013).” The effects of body armour on mobility and postural control of police officers Ben Schram Robin Orr Ben Hinton Geoff Norris Rodney Pope https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.03.001

What Were The Findings of the Study?

The study found “[s]ignificant differences were found between ILAV or N conditions in various components of the FMS, including right Straight Leg Raise, left shoulder mobility, and both right and left quad rotary stability. No significant differences were found in any of the balance measures between these conditions.” Supra.

The conclusions made were that the “ILAVs can significantly affect police officer mobility and therefore may contribute to injury risk and decreased ability to complete occupational tasks, though this should be weighed against protective benefits. ILAVs should therefore be carefully selected to minimise injury risk without detracting from occupational performance.” Supra. [emphasis added]

Are There Any Issues of Controversy with Respect to Body Armor?

Yes. One matter that can become an issue with respect Body Armor is the fact that there are multiple types of body armor which have different styles. There was a study that compared different ILAV and found that there were differences in the comfort and performance. The perceived effects and comfort of various body armour systems on police officers while performing occupational tasks B. Schram1* , B. Hinton2 , R. Orr , R. Pope and G. Norris Schram et al. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2018) 30:15 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0228-x.

In sum, there are different brands that may have different impacts on the officers wearing them.

What Does Caselaw Say with Respect to Body Armor?

A search review was done with respect to this article. As the writing of this article, there have been no reported cases concerning injury related to the use of body armor. This caselaw search does not reveal as to whether such claims have been made and have been accepted as legitimate injury claims. Rather, the search indicates that there has been no controversy to the point that there has been any noteworthy or reported litigation involving body armor.

What Is the Future?

Many Law Enforcement Departments have received grants and funds to provide body armor to their departments. As a result, there will be more increased use of body armor. This increased use may likely cause musculoskeletal problems which may give rise to a physical injury. This type of physical injury would be the basis for filing a workers’ compensation claim.

What if I Need Advice?