Common injuries in this line of work
Baggage handlers lift bags of every size, often while bent over in a tight cargo hold or kneeling on a belt loader. Twisting while lifting a heavy bag is a common way to hurt the back, shoulders or knees. Bags can also fall from a cart or a belt and strike someone.
The ramp is full of moving equipment: tugs, baggage carts, belt loaders, fuel trucks and aircraft being pushed back. Workers can be struck, pinned or run over, and slips are common on wet or icy pavement. Jet engines are loud, and long exposure to that noise can lead to hearing loss or ringing in the ears.
Shifts often start before sunrise or run late at night, and turnaround times are tight. Many ground workers are employed by a contractor rather than the airline or the airport. That matters after an injury, because you need to know which company is your employer for the claim.
Reporting it and the claim process
Find out who your employer is: the airline, a ground handling company, a staffing agency or the airport. Report the injury to your direct supervisor in writing and ask who handles workers' comp claims.
Hearing loss and ringing in the ears develop slowly. If you notice either, report it and say how long you have worked near engines and what hearing protection was provided. Deadlines to report and file vary by state and may work differently for slow-building conditions, so check with your state's workers' compensation agency early.
Keep your shift schedules, injury report, medical records and notes from every call. If another company's vehicle or employee was involved, write down that company's name and the equipment number.
Getting medical care
Some airports have an on-site clinic or first aid station. That may be your first stop, but ask where to go for follow-up care. Tell every clinician that the injury happened at work.
Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask your employer or the claims adjuster. For hearing changes, ask about a hearing test. A licensed clinician decides what care is appropriate after an evaluation.
Ask how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Many can be filled at a pharmacy near home, and some can be delivered, which can help with odd shift hours.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery and medications often used after work injuries.
When people often talk to an attorney
- A vehicle or worker from another company caused the injury, and a third party may be involved.
- You work for a contractor and there is confusion about who is responsible for the claim.
- Your hearing loss claim is questioned because it built up over years.
- The injury is serious or may keep you from ramp work.
- You were discouraged from reporting, or your shifts changed after you reported.
- Your claim is denied or delayed, or you are offered a settlement.
Recovery and going back to work
Ramp work is physical, so going back too soon can make an injury worse. Follow the care plan and keep appointments.
Lighter jobs may exist, such as checking bags in, working in operations or driving a tug with no lifting. If offered, ask for the details in writing and show them to your doctor.
Keep talking with your supervisor and the adjuster, and note each call. If you are given new hearing protection, keep using it as directed.
Questions to ask
- Which company is my employer for this claim?
- Who handles workers' comp, and what is my claim number?
- Can the ramp camera footage be saved?
- Can I get a hearing test, and who arranges it?
- Is there non-lifting work I can do while I recover?
- How are my prescriptions handled with my shift hours?
- Where can I check the reporting deadlines for my state?
If you're hurt on the job
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 or the airport emergency number now if someone was hit by a vehicle, pinned, badly bleeding, unconscious or has a head injury.
- 2Get clear of active vehicle lanes and aircraft before giving first aid, if it is safe.
- 3Get medical care and tell the clinician it happened on the airport ramp.
- 4Tell your lead or supervisor and report the injury in writing. Keep a copy.
- 5Write down the gate, the flight or aircraft, the equipment number and who saw it.
- 6Ask whether there is ramp camera footage and how to request that it be saved.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Injuries common in aviation ground crews
Other industries
Frequently asked questions
What should a baggage handler do after a back injury on the ramp?
Stop lifting, get medical care and tell your supervisor. Report the injury in writing and note the flight, the bag or cargo and the time. Keep a copy of your report.
Can aviation ground crew workers file for hearing loss?
They may be able to, depending on state rules and the facts. Report hearing changes or ringing in the ears in writing. Ask for a hearing test and keep records of how long you worked near engines.
I work for a ground handling contractor, not the airline — who do I report to?
Report to your direct supervisor at the company that pays you, in writing. Ask them who handles workers' comp. If another company's worker or vehicle was involved, write that down too.
What if I was hit by a tug or baggage cart?
Call 911 or the airport emergency number if it is serious. Get medical care even if you feel okay at first. Report it in writing and note the equipment number and the driver.
Is ringing in my ears from work noise a work injury?
It can be, if the noise at work caused it. Tell a clinician and your employer in writing. Rules for slow-building conditions vary by state, so check early.
Can I go back to ramp work on light duty?
Some employers offer light duty, but it depends on the job and your restrictions. Ask for the offer in writing and share it with your doctor.
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).