When people think about work injuries, they tend to imagine places like construction sites, factories, and oil fields. While these workplaces are among the most dangerous, the truth is that a work injury can occur at any place of employment, including the office. Our Albuquerque office injury lawyer explains the most common injuries office workers suffer on the job.
Common Office Injuries
Almost every workplace has accidents that are unique to or prevalent in that specific locale. In offices, injuries tend to stem from long hours sitting, typing, or reading. If people aren’t provided with ergonomic spaces to work in nor given regular breaks, they may suffer chronic pain and other ailments ranging from mild treatable to severe and permanent. Let’s look at the four most common office injuries below.
Slip & Falls
Slipping and falling is perhaps the most common cause of work injuries in all workplaces. This is because a slip and fall can occur at any time for a myriad of reasons.
Common causes of slip and fall accidents in office environments include:
- A spill or leak that hasn’t been properly cleaned or fixed
- Wires, cables, and other obstructions in walkways
- Broken stairs and defective elevators
- Potholes in office parking lots
- Slippery ice on sidewalks and walkways
- Loose carpets, rugs, tiles, or flooring
- Poor, dim lighting that makes it difficult to see
While a slip and fall may result in nothing more than a bruise or scrape, they can lead to very serious harm, including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage. If you have
Repetitive Strain Back & Neck Injuries
A repetitive strain injury (RSI) occurs when damage to muscles or soft tissue is caused by repetitive motion or movement done over an extended period. Because the average office employee spends eight or more hours a day sitting in a desk chair, their back muscles can become painfully cramped and spinal malformations can occur. Without regular stretching and the enforcement of mandatory breaks, the damage can become very serious and even debilitating.
Repetitive Strain Hand & Wrist Injuries
Another repetitive motion associated with the office is typing. Many people’s jobs require them to type almost all day long, which can put a lot of pressure on their fingers and wrists. Symptoms of an RSI in the hands and wrists include throbbing, tingling, numbness, stiffness, and weakness.
Repetitive strain injuries common in the hands and wrists of office workers include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis
- Tendinitis
- De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
- Stenosing Tenosynovitis (trigger finger)
Eye Injuries
If your shift at the office consists of staring at a computer all day, your vision could be suffering. Your eyes must work extra hard to endure the glare of a computer screen, not to mention the straining required to read any small or blurry print you come across. Just like heavy lifting or typing, staring at a screen for long hours can cause an RSI. There is even a disorder known as computer vision syndrome, or digital eyestrain, that many office workers are diagnosed with. If you work on a computer and are experiencing vision problems, headaches, and exhaustion, you may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Are you experiencing pain from a repetitive strain injury? Or did you slip and fall at work? You may be able to receive worker’s compensation benefits. Contact our Albuquerque office injury lawyer now to schedule your free case evaluation.