When you think of work injuries, it usually conjures images of freakish accidents involving heavy machinery, falls from tall structures, or overstraining the body from heavy lifting. Usually, you wouldn’t consider an office setting to be particularly hazardous.
While this is generally the case, there are still some hazards to be aware of. An office setting isn’t nearly as direct as a factory or construction site when it comes to causing injury, but it can take its toll over time. Office injuries can be just as much a cause for a workers’ compensation claim as any other type of injury. Here, we’ll go over a few of the most common office worker injuries in the U.S.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Rain, snow, and ice are all culprits for slippery floors, such as spills in the kitchen or restroom. Other floor-related hazards include exposed cords, loose rugs, and clutter, which can also cause people to trip and fall, potentially resulting in injury.
Even if a slip and fall accident at work doesn’t result in immediately debilitating pain, it doesn’t mean there has been no injury at all. Sometimes, these take a couple of days to manifest themselves, but when they do, they can dramatically diminish your quality of life and warrant compensation.
Musculoskeletal Problems
Any sort of damage to the skeletal and tendon structures in your arms, wrists, hands, neck, or back falls under the category of musculoskeletal problems. In the office, these most commonly result from ergonomic issues—bad posture when sitting, no wrist support when using a keyboard, clamping a phone receiver between your cheek and shoulder, and so forth.
These injuries develop over time, so it may be hard to notice them at first or connect them to work. Nevertheless, if you suffer from carpal tunnel, bursitis, back and neck pain, or other musculoskeletal ailments, you could recover compensation for it from your employer.
Eye Strain
Staring at a computer screen all day can strain your eyes, leaving them dry, irritated, or unfocused. The lighting in the office can also cause problems, such as if you have insufficient light for manual work or are constantly facing glare from the windows.
Working long hours at a desk without adequate breaks can cause eye strain and weaken your vision. It can also result in migraines and other painful issues, so you may be able to make a claim if this is the case.
Respiratory Issues and Illness
Air quality is just as important in an office space as it is in other work areas. Since you’re inside most of the day, the air must be properly filtered by the building’s ventilation system. Also, mold and other harmful pollutants should be handled promptly or prevented entirely. These can lead to long-term health problems and can occasionally be dangerous.
It’s your employer’s responsibility to prevent mold and other hazards in the workplace. If you have suffered an injury from your office, even if it has taken some time to manifest, you will want expert legal aid in recovering compensation for it. Hart & David can help you with that, so contact us today with your case.