Does your center seem to have more injuries lately

[trickpony1]

proups,
You seem to have blind faith in all things UPS...including the "company" doctors.

During one physical a "company" doctor told me my vision (I wear glasses) was near DOT minimums and I "...had better watch that".

Within three days I was at my optometrist's (a real doctor who specializes in vision) for a vision exam (on my dime).

I told the optometrist what the "company" doctor had said. My doctor's response was "...that's crap....you're better than 20/20 corrected."

Some people either don't know or choose to ignore the enormous influence (both good and bad)that UPS can exert, usually to their benefit.

 

[trickpony1]

gman,
Isn't that amazing?
The company openly tells us to report EVERY injury...no matter how slight immediately but when we do we are subject to veiled threats and harassment.
Actions like this make it really hard to be honest and work for this company.

 

[crappie]

Gman every driver that I have talked to that has had a major back injurys ,have been told by the company doctors that they had degenerative disk disease.

 

[over9five]

"...but there are plenty where I am.."

Proups, If you're so certain this is happening, and you feel so strongly about it, WHY don't you report it? Make an anonymous call to Liberty Mutual or your state DA office. This is a crime that you say is wide-spread in your area. By not reporting it YOU are an accomplice!

Gman, I have seen the hit list in operation here, too. One center had a sup AND a Liberty Mutual agent riding around together spying on the "repeat offenders".

Crappie, I agree that company doctors are probably paid (or at least hired) to get injured employees back to work by the fastest method. Like any other employee, if they want to stay employed they do what their employer (UPS) tells them.

 

[rushfan]

Lately, we haven't had any injuries. Just wait 'till it gets hot and the "scratch drivers" will get dehydrated. It happens like clockwork. And usually it's the same drivers.

We had a UPS appointed doc put one of our drivers in a cast for what ended up a simple sprain. The driver who was put in it got tired of not working for 2 months, so he paid another doctor for a 2nd opinion. The second doc said there was never a broken bone. There were many other problems.
It was only after he (the doctor) was Billing UPS for no reason at all that he was dumped.

 

[johnny]

I will say this though,check workers comp laws in your state I believe they vary from state to state.Find out what your rights are and use them.If for any reason you feel that you are being treated unfairly by filing a w/c claim consult the help of legal counsel.What you say or do can turn around to bite you someday.

 

[ok2bclever]

There are plenty of hacks out there and the majority of them settle in these nomadic like clinics that the companies hire.

They are well aware that if they displease their customer (the company) the company will take their business elsewhere so the odds are high in the company's favor which way any diagnosis is going to lean and frankly most of medicine is an art rather than a science, especially in areas such as the back.

The head of our last clinic was finally convicted of internet child pornography and so we have changed to a new clinic which so far seems more ethical than the last, but I would still not rely on any of their merry go round nomadic doctors on any medical matter where my welfare was concerned.

There is a reason why they don't have their own practice and the best one is they are too young and inexperienced to have their own and the reasons go down from there.

I also think proups has a wierd environment as we don't and never have had a bunch of employees that "get hurt" seasonally for their favorite hobby.

Regionally we too have what is called a "Repeat Offender" list for those that have had multiple accidents or injuries.

The definition I believe is two in two years.

Then you are subject to a letter basically condemning you for your selfish carelessness and how it impacts the workload of your fellow employees.

You also get periodical rides and spot spying forays, etc.

I have had many employees come up to me complaining that management is making them fill out injury forms when they report minor injuries.

The complaint is they don't want to report the injury or fill out the forms because then if they get injured seriously they will be a "repeater".

So this UPS practice does promote "hiding" or not reporting injuries which OSHA would frown upon if they were aware of how this is being handled, but they have been seriously gutted of personnel and power so it doesn't matter much what they think on borderline issues.

 

[dannyboy]

Interesting thread. Had my other knee fixed last week. The knee that was injured while I was on TAW. Seems like the sups did not understand that I was not to climb, into trucks or up stairs, and to keep walking to a minimum. So I guess they thought that cleaning windshields on all the package cars and tractors fell in that limitation. So now I have two knees that are not strong enough to haul my fat @%# into the car.

As to hireing a lawyer, I hate the thought.

Several years ago, I broke my foot early in the day and they instructed me to work until I was done. Then they had me deliver 7 misloads. I finallly got the the ER at 11PM. The whole area was buggered up so bad they could not set it for two weeks. After about 4 years I had a growth tht developed on the site of the break. It got so big and tender I could not even have a sheet on it while sleeping. The surgury to have it removed was not paid by workers comp. And It has come back and I will have to have it done again. This cost for these is mine to deal with, and the lost wages are just that, lost. And all because I followed my sups instruction.

So on this knee, I did get a lawyer involved, and have open medical for life. If the knee needs so be replaced, which the workers comp doc said was within a couple of years, if I keep working, workers comp will pick up the tab.

As for the company doctors, there are some that are good Doctors, but the most are docs that are failures at any other practice that they have had. There are two in the quick care doc in a box that have been almost run out of business because of malpractice problems in the past.

We had a driver last year that claimed he was injured at home over the weekend. Then after three or four months he went the lawyer route. The story changed and he got hurt on the job. Of course he lost. I am kinda surpised that UPS did not fire him for dishonesty.

The reason UPS had droped statistically as far as the workers comp stats is because of TAW. The gooberment watches all injuries but lost time are given more weight, Small injuries that do not have lost time involved are treated differently than a lost time injury. So if you are hurt, and the injury has you off two weeks, and you work TAW, it does not show as a lost time injury.

I cut my index finger to the bone last year by a box that came apart that contained a piece of sheet metal. I let it bleed out, used a bit of gauze, duct tape and a popsicle stick and went on. After filling out the forms went to see the Doc in the box and he wanted to put in 12 stiches. I asked him why if the cut had closed on its own. He insisted and I refused. Had to wear the popsicle stick for a week and never had another problem. I was lucky that it did not cut the tendons.

As far as injuries on the job, that is the third largest expenditure UPS has. The want to cut it, they have to cut it, and they have done some things that are good. But I think that if they used some of the brain power they have and turn it into brawn to help get some of us in earlier and to be able to get some days off, it would help.

Sorry about the ramble, morphine is a wonderful thing, but it does have its side effects.

d

 

[laborer]

"I have been diagnosed with degenerative disk as of five years ago. That is not covered by Workers comp."

gman: I'd check with an attorney on this. A degenerative disk is also caused by repetitive motion and movement which also causes arthritis. Good luck on getting healthy.

 

[dannyboy]

"gman: I'd check with an attorney on this. A degenerative disk is also caused by repetitive motion and movement which also causes arthritis"

Workers comp is only for injuries that happen at one time, not for the motions that you speak of. If he was an unloader and had the same motion every time in the same direction, then maybe. But if you change position, change motions, or do anything else between those motions you are claiming as repetitive, you are out of luck. Workers comp will not cover it. And even if it was a workers comp case, if it is over a year old, too bad.

And thats the way it is.

d

 

[ok2bclever]

Actually, that is not the way it is.

For one thing Worker's Compensation is a state administered and legislatured program and the rules and definitions differ state to state.

I would get a professional opinion on any serious or long term injury regarding the financial aspects of it.

Locally we have had several go off for Carpal Tunnel operations and those are repetitive injuries and were covered by Worker's Compensation at least here in Michigan.

Now the company on the other hand wants a specific incident or they are likely to balk at the outset regarding it being on the job regardless of the injury, but they do not run WC.

From a practical point of view it is easier to be involved with WC in cooperation with the company than in spite of them, but it can be done both ways.

 

[tieguy]

In delaware you get more comp if you are injured while on or operating a motor vehicle. Therefore we have had quite a few injuries where a driver claims he was driving down the road and suddenly felt a pain. Its a shame how some try to work the system and thus cast suspicion on all injuries.

 

[laborer]

"Workers comp is only for injuries that happen at one time, not for the motions that you speak of. If he was an unloader and had the same motion every time in the same direction, then maybe. But if you change position, change motions, or do anything else between those motions you are claiming as repetitive, you are out of luck. Workers comp will not cover it. And even if it was a workers comp case, if it is over a year old, too bad."

dannyboy: In my state there is a 2 year filing period unless it is a cumulative trauma injury which allows you to file within 2 years from the date of your last exposure at work. I'm not saying gman should or shouldn't be covered by workers comp but he should investigate the possibility. Are you also saying that lifting, moving and delivering packages for years and years is not repetitive motion? How about stepping in and out of a package car 300-400 times a day or pulling the hand-brake(no jokes

)and opening the bulkhead door 150 times a day?

 

[gman]

laborer

I did have a lawyer when it was refused by comp. My doctor wrote an opinion that danced around the issue but would not say it was a direct result of the original injury, even though he thought it was the strongest contributing factor. BUT... my lawyer did go back to the original claim and win payment at the rate from 1995, which is about $150 bucks a week less than it would have been if it was a new injury. But then you give a third of that to the lawyer so you get about 300 a week. I get that much from disability and it's a lot less hassle. I guess the system has beaten me. I'm just tired of the run-around and denials of my claim.


Proups,
You say you don't believe in chiropractors and thats fine. The three people I know personally that had back surgery are 1 for 3. And the winner is still in constant pain. The other two ended up in wheel chairs the rest of their lives so I'm not even considering the knife.
I plan on getting a lot of use out of my own personal chiropractor. My son in law will finish up school next year and I plan to take advantage of my family rate!

 

[gman]

""How about stepping in and out of a package car 300-400 times a day or pulling the hand-brake(no jokes)and opening the bulkhead door 150 times a day?""

Now that you mention it, my right shoulder and elbow have been a nagging pain for the last year and a half. And I attribute it to the hand brake 150 time a day.

 

[upsermom]

Not about an injury but about the doctors. My son went to the clinic to get his DOT physical. Two clinics were side by side using the same registration window and said they did UPS DOT physicals. Went to one gave them the paperwork and at the end of the physical they asked for payment. He told them that the form said where to send it to get paid. They said no he had to pay to leave. He called the center and they asked him to confirm the address which was right. They told him to pay and fill out an expense report. He did that. Doctors office sent in form. Two weeks later he got the form again. The first one was from wrong clinic. He had to go again to the other side for the physical. Two weeks later gets forms for physical again because form is not filled out properly. Has to get physical again because second person who did physical is on vacation and he needs card right away. That was last week don't know if it is Ok yet. Funny thing is both sides handle injuries for UPS an are ran by the same company.This whole thing is such a racket.

 

[trickpony1]

Your son may want to convey his experiences to his Business Agent. My BA would be making phone calls wanting to know why this circus was happening.
I been employed by UPS for 27 years and have never paid for a DOT physical.
Welcome to the world of UPS. Clusters like this happen alot.

 

[dannyboy]

At my last physical, the attendent told me my blood presure was 210 over 112. She took it again, same thing. She stated that since it was that high, I could not get a Dot Card.

I replied that my BP rarely is much more than 120 over 80. I also stated that I was going to contact my attorney to sue them for the lost time and damages for placing this information into my file. Funny how the BP came down to normal.

Workers comp IS different in every state. What I relayed is what it is here. To make matters worse, you need to fill out different forms if you get hurt in a different state then where your center is, even if that is just driving to your area from your centers state.

I too am lucky to have had a father and a brother as chiropractors. They have realy kept the back in reasonable shape for these 31 years. Now if it would help my knees.

d

(Message edited by dannyboy on May 07, 2005)

 

[johnny]

"I guess the system has beaten me. I'm just tired of the run-around and denials of my claim."

Unfortuneatly that's what they want.You just get tired & quit fighting.

 

[trickpony1]

Dannyboy,
When I donate blood my BP is usually 100 over something and they recalibrate their machines at least twice a day to assure accuracy.
When I go to my personal physician it's usually 110 over something.
When I go to the quacks at the clinic it's consistently 130 over something.
My point is.....just walking through the door at the quacks can have adverse effects, something called "the white coat syndrome."