When many people think of workplace injuries and workers’ compensation claims in Homestead and Florida, they tend to think of high-risk occupations in industrial settings and factories. However, office workers also face a range of serious injuries and workplace accidents.
If you work in an office, there are many situations where you may be exposed to toxic chemicals or unsafe conditions. You can suffer from back injuries, head trauma, repetitive strain injuries, falls, and other serious injuries.
Common Office Injuries
Common causes of injuries in the workplace include:
- Falls, including falls on level surfaces and falls from heights
- Workplace violence
- Falls on stairs
- Slip and fall accidents
- Items falling from tall shelves
- Exposure to chemicals and toxic materials such as asbestos
- Strain injuries caused by lifting heavy objects
- Back injuries and eye strain caused by long hours sitting and working with screens
Preventing Office Injuries in Hollywood and South Florida
If you work in an office in Homestead or anywhere in South Florida, you can take a few steps to help prevent workplace injuries:
- Take part in workplace safety and training workshops and demonstrations. The more you know, the better you can avoid injury.
- Report broken rails, wet floors, poor lighting, and other workplace hazards promptly and follow up to make sur they are handled.
- Put away workplace equipment, including papers and folders, instead of leaving them around where they can be a tripping hazard.
- Encourage your office to go paperless, which can reduce the risk of having to lift heavy file boxes and can minimize dangerous clutter.
- Always use step ladders or appropriate ladders to reach items on high shelves.
- On shelving, never store heavy things, such as boxes of files, up high.
- If you do need to lift something heavy, get help if it is too heavy. If you can lift is safely, squat down and lift with your arms and legs instead of your back.
- If you will be sitting for long periods of time, invest in a good ergonomic chair and make sure your legs, arms, and arms are correctly positioned. Adjust your chair, desk, and monitor as needed to work comfortably.
- If your work is largely stationary, get plenty of exercise to keep your core strong and set a timer to take regular breaks and walk around.
What To Do If You Are Injured at Work
If you work in an office and get injured, it can be difficult to continue sitting at your desk or showing up for your work, which can cost you money. Medical bills can also pile up. In these situations, you will want to apply for workers’ compensation, if you qualify, and explore your legal options. You can do so by arranging a no-cost consultation with a Hollywood workers’ compensation attorney. Just call Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) to set up your consultation.