Maintenance workers perform physically demanding and labor intensive jobs that require the ability to frequently lift heavy equipment, manually move equipment and tools, stand for long periods, bend/twist/kneel/stoop often throughout the day, climb ladders, use their hands for repairing or installing equipment or fixtures, and perform timely repairs.
According to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, maintenance workers should be able to inspect machinery, dismantle and reassemble equipment, perform installation tasks, maintain records of maintenance, and use a variety of tools that could include hazardous equipment, handheld power tools, torches, and welding devices. It is important that maintenance workers have the ability to perform the duties safely. Some maintenance workers have additional supervisory responsibilities. The positions are typically classified as being at least “medium” in nature, requiring maintenance workers to exert 20 to 50 pounds occasionally.
In our experience, common medical conditions suffered by maintenance workers include conditions related to the physical exertion that is placed on their bodies, such as:
- Lumbar spine/back conditions
- Degenerative disc disease
- Bulging discs
- Lumbar stenosis
- Radiculopathy
- Pulled muscles
- Torn rotator cuffs
- Shoulder impingements
- Fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic pain in multiple areas of the body
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Conditions related to the knees
- Abnormal gait
- Restricted ranges of motion
- Neck pain/conditions
- Edema
Often, we find that other health conditions, combined with the physical conditions, cumulatively restrict maintenance workers from being able to perform the job duties.
It is important to know that ERISA disability policies typically have a two-part definition for “disability.” In most policies, an insurance company initially investigates your claim to determine if you can perform your regular or own occupation. However, after receiving disability benefits for a period of time (usually 24 months), the definition of disability may change. If that happens, the insurance company is no longer determining whether you can perform your own occupation. Instead, the insurance company investigates whether you can perform any occupation. During this process, the insurance company will often find a less demanding job that it believes you can perform. Your education, training, and experience may be considered in this process. For example, once benefits have been received for 24 months, an insurance company might allege that a maintenance worker can perform other occupations such as “Information Clerk,” “Gate Guard,” or “Dispatcher, Maintenance Service.” It is important to prove that your medical conditions and restrictions prevent you from performing any occupation and having evidence to support your position.
Usually, the insurance company hires a medical consultant to review your file and answer questions about your conditions and restrictions. You may not ever meet with or speak to this medical consultant. Your medical condition(s), restrictions, and background are typically sent to the insurance company’s internal vocational department to determine if you have “transferable skills” that can be applied to other jobs. Importantly, these “other jobs” do not have to be with your same employer (or any specific employer) and are often not the same occupation you performed before becoming disabled.
Every case is different and depends on the medical condition(s) involved and the terms of the disability insurance policy that applies to each claim of disability. Not every policy is the same.
If you are a maintenance worker and your long term disability claim or ERISA disability claim has been wrongfully denied or you are in the process of filing a long term disability claim, contact the experienced long term disability lawyers and ERISA disability attorneys at Mehr Fairbanks Trial Lawyers at (800) 249-3731 to secure a free consultation about your rights and benefits.
This information should not be construed as legal advice or a guideline to your specific claim for benefits.