Working in an office setting is not a profession that people associate with injury. However, thousands of employees who do their jobs in office settings every year end up applying for workers’ compensation benefits due to medical challenges. Some workers suffer sudden injuries in unexpected workplace incidents. Others develop cumulative trauma or repetitive strain injuries due to spending many hours working at a computer. Office worker injuries can often be painful and may continue progressing if someone does not receive treatment.
Those who understand the risks in their work environments may have an easier time avoiding or properly handling a job-related medical issue. How can office employees help reduce their personal risk of injury on the job?
Request ergonomic accommodations
Office ergonomics have a major impact on someone’s physical well-being at work. Chairs without lumbar support or desks at the wrong height and put a lot of strain on someone’s fine and back. Seeking proper ergonomics accommodations from an employer can take the risk out of spending the entire day at a desk.
Move carefully through the office space
Slips and trips that lead to falls are a top cause of workplace safety issues for those in offices. Falls can occur in any setting. Office workers who wear dress shoes may not have very good traction as they move through the office and could be particularly susceptible to slips and trips as a result. Carefully paying attention to one surroundings to spot tripping or slipping hazards and avoiding dangerous rushing can reduce an office employee’s risk of a slip-and-fall injury.
Rest and stretch
Taking a break occasionally can limit the physical strain that office environments place on workers’ bodies. Standing up from a desk, stretching one’s back and resting hands and forearms can help people avoid repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome caused by consistent overuse of body parts.
Employees also need to recognize when they show warning signs of injuries so that they can communicate with their employers. Workers’ compensation benefits usually cover treatment expenses and replace lost wages if workers require a leave of absence while recovering from injuries related to office work.