Office work is largely considered to be safe, especially when compared with physically demanding careers like construction or manufacturing. However, office workers do get hurt on the job and often need to claim workers’ compensation benefits.
What are the most common injuries that office workers report and require time off of work or medical care to address?
Back or neck pain
The exact reason that people think an office job is so safe is what causes many of the physical complaints that office workers have. Sitting all day is not good for your overall health.
Not only does it affect your circulation and your flexibility, but it can also affect your joints. Sitting in cheap chairs could easily lead to chronic back pain. Needing to look down while sitting might cause pain in the neck and shoulders. Chairs with lumbar support and other ergonomic accommodations can limit these risks for office workers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries
While you may not need to lift heavy objects all day to do your job in an office, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to perform repetitive tasks. Typing all day or frequently gripping a phone can lead to repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Performing the same function over and over all day can eventually lead to significant damage. You may require time off from work, surgery or even physical therapy to improve from symptoms related to repetitive stress injuries. Learning about common office injuries, like repetitive stress injuries, can give you the confidence to ask for the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.