Can I say I dont want to help a person at work?

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately I have a horrible job of going through old files that are in boxes.

Due to this job I've experienced bad back pain and have torn a muscle in my shoulder.

Another lady is doing this too and is finding it hard to lift the heavy files.

She keeps on asking me to help her. I did before my shoulder injury. It's still painful after 3 weeks and I don't want to make it worse if I help her too. I want to control my shoulder and back problems without helping her which will make it worse.

Is this an ok to say this to her:

"Unfortunately I can no longer help you due to my shoulder injury. If you are struggling let our boss know."

I haven't told my boss about my shoulder cause last time I asked if someone else could lift some, she said "Why would we get someone else to do your job."

If I help this lady, I don't want to get involved. What if she drops the files if I am helping her? I don't want to get involved in that.

Is that an ok thing to say?

I'm looking for a new job but got to stay and do this before I find another one.

[Shiprex]

If you are injured then your employer isn't performing their duty of care by expecting you to worsen it by carrying heavy loads.

Since you're probably in the US I imagine there is no kind of legal requirement for them to have a duty of care to your wellbeing so my advice would be to wear a sling and get a medical note to say that lifting heavy weights will result in longer term injury and a lawyer would be used to affirm the medical certificate application in your work place.

[BadApple69]

First off. Lift with your legs….
Yes it’s ok to tell this lady that you hurt your shoulder and lifting is only hurting you more.

[AI Opinion]

It's essential to prioritize your health. Your proposed response is both clear and courteous. Communicating your injury responsibly shows awareness of your limitations. Consider saying: "Due to my shoulder injury, I'm unable to help with lifting files. Please inform our boss if you're struggling." Also, it's important to inform your boss about your condition, so they understand the situation. This approach maintains professionalism while protecting your well-being. Keep searching for a new role that aligns better with your health and skills.

[In_Trance]

If you're both injured why haven't you been assigned to other jobs?
Not sure about labor laws where you live but if you have restrictive duties you can't be expected to do the job at full capacity