Garment and manufacturing workers injured at work

A clothing label may tell you little about the shop where you work. For an injury conversation, begin with the workplace address, the person who assigns your tasks and the name on any pay records.

The task at your station

Explain the machine or hand tool you use, the materials you handle and the movements you repeat. Sewing, cutting, pressing, packing and assembly involve different tasks. Include how the work changes during a busy order or when you move to a different station.

If symptoms appeared gradually, note when you first noticed them and what has become harder to do. The DWC explains that repeated exposures can cause a work injury, including repeated wrist movements. Our repetitive stress page discusses gradual injury claims.

Source: California DWC, injured worker FAQs, checked October 2026.

If equipment or a substance was involved

Describe the machine, tool or product and the task you were doing. Keep any existing incident report or product information with your notes. For questions involving chemicals or other substances, see harmful exposure at work.

Explain the same work tasks to the treating provider. The medical treatment guide covers questions about getting care through a claim.

Pay records do not all look alike

You may have pay stubs, records of completed pieces, a schedule or messages about assignments. Bring what you have and explain how you were paid. If a document uses a different company name from the one you know, include both names in your notes.

You do not need to calculate a claim or settle the employment arrangement yourself before asking a question. The first conversation can begin with what you did, where you did it and what happened.

A private conversation in English or Spanish

If it is difficult to speak during a shift, suggest a callback time and say whether a message is okay. Contact the office about your garment or factory work injury. If you have a letter from an insurer, keep it nearby for the call.