If you have been injured at work, you may need to take some time off and recover. In most cases, hurt workers are paid a partial salary when they must recuperate at home. At some point, though, the workers' compensation doctor may approve you to return to work, but with restrictions. Read on to find out what that might mean.

Light Duty Work

When you can return to your previous job, but you must refrain from certain activities, it's known as light duty work. It means that your doctor has determined that your injury has healed to the point that you can test yourself by gradually returning to your previous duties. When you are assigned to light duty work, you will still be eligible for medical treatment if it's related to the accident. Once you are cleared to return to work as usual, your medical benefits may end.

What About Pay?

You will be paid for your light-duty work. In most cases, workers are paid the same hourly rate they earned before the injury. However, light duty often means you won't be working full-time. Most of the time, light duty means you work part-time. If you are not working full-time, your disability wages will continue but they will be reduced. You will be paid a portion of your usual disability wage while you are assigned to light duty.

What Does Light Duty Mean?

Your duties at work will be altered to ensure you are not stressing an injury or making your injury worse. Light duty often means the worker is restricted to only tasks that don't require strenuous activity. That might mean you are provided with work that limits walking, carrying objects of a certain size, sitting for a certain time period, and more. 

For instance, if you used to drive a forklift and have injured your arm, you may be performing seated tasks that don't involve the use of your injured arm. Not all workers can go back to work light duty. Some may be assigned to perform tasks that put them and their injuries at risk. If you are unsure of performing a task, you have a right to appeal the light duty orders.

Speak to a workers' compensation lawyer about your light duty orders. Your lawyer can negotiate with the insurer to ensure that you are not hurting yourself doing work. In some cases, you won't be able to perform the job tasks and will need to be reevaluated by a doctor. Don't take part in a light-duty position that is not good for you. Speak to a workers' comp lawyer and assert your rights to safety.

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