The most serious cases of hand and arm injuries in the workplace carry a stiff price tag, in addition to the pain and suffering of the injured worker.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, serious arm injuries resulted in 17 median days away from work, and wrist injuries resulted in a median 18 days lost. In both cases, that means the injured worker was “lost” to his or her job for more than three work weeks.

You can see the operational disruption this causes – in addition to the victim’s pain and suffering. Who covers for the injured worker for 3+ weeks? Is a temp brought? What kind of training is necessary for the replacement worker? Can production and quality quotas still be met?