3 Common Injuries You Can Get From Working in an Office

Workers’ compensation is most often associated with dangerous occupations, such as construction, mining, manufacturing and warehouse jobs. However, these are not the only places of employment where you can fall victim to a work injury. You are even at risk for certain injuries if you work in an ordinary office. These are the three most common types you may experience at your office job.

Three Common Office Injuries

1. Falls

The number one office injury is falls, which includes slipping and falling. Falls lead to the most disabilities and are likelier to happen to office employees than to other workers. You may trip over a cord or an open file drawer, slip on an uncleaned spill, or fall off your chair while bending over. The scenarios are numerous, yet all are preventable through simple safety measures, such as wearing shoes with nonslip soles and using stepladders instead of chairs or boxes to reach items.

2. Musculoskeletal disorders

Another common consequence of office labor is suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. These are medical conditions that affect your muscles, bones, joints, tendons, nerves and other parts of the musculoskeletal system, thus impairing your movement. Carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis fall under this category.

You may also know these conditions as repetitive motion injuries, though they result from more than just repetition. Your body posture can contribute to them as well. There are steps you can take to make your work station more ergonomic and reduce your chances of musculoskeletal disorders.

3. Objects

An often-overlooked cause of physical harm is interaction with everyday office supplies and equipment. You may strike an object, such as bumping into a desk, or an object may strike you, such as an unbalanced file cabinet toppling over. You may also get caught in an object; for example, your finger getting jammed in a door or clothing getting caught in a machine. Staplers and paper cutters can also lead to injury, as can unsecured objects falling from shelves. Keep your work area clean and clear, and use all office objects correctly and carefully.

Other Ways You Can Get Injured Working in an Office

While the above three are the most common, they are not the only sources of office injury. Others include:

• Fires
• Improper lifting
• Poor indoor air quality
• Extreme temperatures

Contact Our South Carolina Workers’ Comp Attorneys Today!

You can eliminate risk by following industry and personal safety standards. However, if you endure any of these injuries due to your workplace, consult with a South Carolina workers’ compensation attorney to learn your options for seeking financial reward to pay for medical expenses and lost income.