You do not have to work in an industry with a reputation for being dangerous, such as construction or manufacturing, to be injured in a workplace accident. You can be seriously injured and even permanently disabled simply by performing your everyday duties in an office. You and other Minnesota residents may want to learn more about the most common ways office workers can be injured on the job.
As in many other industries, falls are the top cause of serious injury in the office. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine states that those who work in offices are up to 2.5 times more likely to suffer disabling injuries from falls than workers in other industries. Why is this, you may wonder? There are many ways to slip, trip and fall in office settings. You could trip over an electrical cord or a floor mat that is rolled under. You may fall down the stairs or off a chair that you are using instead of a ladder. You could trip over office supplies left in walkways, slip in a wet entryway on a rainy day or fall over in an unstable chair.
Other ways to get hurt at the office include the following:
- Striking your head on an overhead cabinet
- Being hit by a falling object
- Hurting your back by improperly lifting objects
- Developing a repetitive movement injury by typing or operating office equipment
- Suffering from eye strain from a computer screen
Workers’ compensation can cover injuries you sustained while working in an office. The information presented here is not meant to replace the advice of a lawyer.
