What are the most common office injuries?

Most people think about dangerous industries, such as construction or factory work, when they discuss workplace injuries. They might not consider the fact that a job-related injury or illness can occur in any industry, including office work. If you work in an office in Connecticut, you may want to learn about the common ways in which you might get hurt on the job.

Like many other industries, falls are the top cause for work-related injuries in an office. In fact, according to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, people who work in an office are up to 2.5 times more likely to sustain a disabling fall-related injury than those who do not work in an office. How can I injure myself in a fall at the office, you may wonder? The following scenarios may bring this point to light:

• Tripping over an electrical cord, rolled up mat or other item left on the floor
• Using a chair to reach something instead of a ladder
• Falling over in an unstable chair
• Slipping on a wet floor
• Missing your step in inadequate lighting
• Falling down the stairs

What other office injuries are common? You could suffer a head injury by hitting your head on an overhead cabinet or from being struck by a heavy object falling off a shelf. You may injure your back or shoulders by improperly lifting heavy objects or office equipment. It is also common to suffer from eye strain by staring at the glare from a computer screen or to develop a repetitive movement injury from not using ergonomically correct office equipment.

Like other workplace injuries, you are entitled to workers’ compensation for injuries sustained in an office job. This information is not meant to replace the advice of a lawyer.