Bus Driver’s Shoulder Injury Was Caused by Operation of Door Lever

A bus driver drove a vehicle with a manual door she had to open repeatedly using a lever instead of her usual bus with an automatic door. After her shift, her right shoulder was swollen and painful. She was diagnosed with a right shoulder sprain. Her workers’ comp claim for the injury was denied. On appeal, the Commission ruled that the injury was compensable. The lever was heavy and awkward to operate because of the driver’s stature. And the evidence supported the conclusion that her injury was caused by operating the lever in the course of her duties [Decision No: 2013-0343, [2013] CanLII 22829 (AB WCAC), May 1, 2013].