Most Common Types of Office Workplace Injuries

Offices might not seem like the kind of workplace that would be prone to injuries, but the truth is, workplace injuries can occur at any place of business. Whether you work in a retail store, a warehouse, a cubicle in a standard office, accidents related to the work you perform can still occur. What are the most common types of workplace injuries in offices? And what can you do if you’re injured on the job? Keep reading to find out more.

Slips and Falls

Slips and falls are the most common cause of injuries in the workplace—and that’s true for almost every type of workplace, not just office settings. Perhaps there was a spill in the breakroom that someone forgot to clean up, and you slip on the wet surface. Maybe you were asked to grab a box of office supplies off of a shelf, and you fell off of the step ladder you were using to reach it. Maybe an extension cord was run across a walkway to provide power to some new equipment, and you tripped over the cord.

There are numerous situations in a standard office setting that can lead to slips and falls while you’re on the job. While most of these falls are minor, many can result in injuries that require medical attention. These injuries can include:

• Concussions and other head injuries
• Broken bones
• Whiplash
• Lacerations
• Dislocated joints
• Sprained joints
• And more

While workers should be following approved procedures for any task they perform in the office, companies also have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for their employees. If a worker slips and falls on the job because of an unsafe work environment, the company could be held liable.

Cuts

You don’t need to be handling power tools or other dangerous equipment to wind up with a nasty cut. This can occur when cutting open boxes of supplies or using a paper cutter to slice stacks of flyers, for example, among other simple daily tasks. While you’re unlikely to worry about filing an injury report for a simple papercut or other small laceration. However, a deep cut with a box cutter or industrial paper cutter could severely impact your health and wellbeing. Scarring, reduced mobility, and infection are just a few of the possible consequences of not properly treating a serious cut sustained in the workplace, so it’s important to file a report for any injury that requires more than a simple Band-Aid.

Repetitive Use Injuries

Many tasks in an office setting are repetitive—the most common being, of course, typing on a computer. Repetitive use injuries are not sudden or dramatic, like the other types of injuries described above, but they can be severely debilitating. While carpal tunnel is the most commonly experienced repetitive use injury amount office workers, virtually any part of the body can be susceptible to long-term injuries from this type of strain. Frequent bending and lifting, or repetitive movements of any joint can cause these types of injuries.

Though they may occur over time, that does not mean that they’re any less deserving of proper treatment and potential compensation. Many office workers have successfully filed workers’ compensation claims for carpal tunnel and other, similar repetitive use injuries.

Get Representation for Your Workers’ Comp Claim

If you were injured in the workplace and your workers’ compensation claim is being denied, or if you feel that your workplace injury was caused by serious neglect on the part of your employer, it’s important that you speak with an attorney. At The Harr Law Firm, we specialize in personal injury claims and can help you to pursue the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

Employees who are injured at work can often feel intimidated into accepting a lower compensation amount than they should, or may be persuaded to avoid filing a claim at all. Fear of losing your job or facing other types of retribution for filing an injury claim should not stop you from having your injuries treated and paid for by your employer, and such intimidation tactics are illegal.

If you were injured at work, regardless of whether you work on a construction site or in a cubicle, The Harr Law Firm can help. Contact our offices today to speak with a team member and schedule your initial consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. We’ll review the details of your case and provide you with more information on how we can help protect your rights.