Working in an office does not make you immune from accidents or injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 30 people working in professional and business services died in 2013.
In addition, 24 people died of workplace injury while performing duties in the administrative and waste services industry. Of those 24 people, almost 88 percent of them were in administrative and support services. Hazards posed to office workers are subtler than those of other industries, although they are just as dangerous.
If you’ve been in an office workplace accident contact the workers’ compensation lawyers at Lundy Law.
Leading Causes of Injury to Office Workers
According to workers’ compensation claims, the top causes of office injury are falls and lifting objects improperly. These are injuries that are also common to other industries.
Being struck by flying objects or running into those that are stationary are other common causes of office employee injury.
However, one common cause is found more prevalently in office workers than in any other industry. Improper workstation ergonomics can lead to neck, back and eye strain as well as repetitive movement injuries such as carpel tunnel.
Potential Hazards to Office Workers
Tripping, slipping or other factors that can cause you to fall can cause significant injury. You could trip over an open drawer or cords that have not been secured. A wet floor with no warning signs could lead you to slip and injure yourself as well.
Despite the fact that office jobs are considered sedentary for the most part, there are times when someone who works in an office must lift heavy objects, such as boxes of copy paper or heavy files. If you lift improperly, you can strain your back or arms to the point you need to miss work, prompting a workers’ comp claim.
Leaving a drawer open or tossing an object across a room to someone could result in an injury as well. Improper ergonomics can lead to disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive movement injuries.
What Rights do Office Workers Have Under OSHA?
The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides all employees with specific rights under federal law.
In Philadelphia and other cities in Pennsylvania, employees have the right to receive information about hazards, methods used to keep them safe and the OSHA standards that apply to their industry.
This information must be provided in the language you understand. You also have the right to receive copies of tests conducted related to hazards in your workplace and to review records of any work-related injuries and illnesses. If your employer has been provided a copy of your medical records, you have a right to request a copy of what the employer has been given.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an office accident in Philadelphia or another city in Pennsylvania, contact Lundy Law today to learn what rights you may have. We can help guide you through the workers’ compensation process and advise you whether you are eligible for additional compensation. You can complete the simple free consultation form on our website or give us a call at 1-800-Lundy Law.
