Office Workers Face Unique Injuries

Manufacturing, agriculture, and hospitality – injuries at these job sites are common. But what about office workers? According to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, office workers face a unique set of workplace injuries.

What are the Top Injuries in a Typical Office, and How Can You Avoid Them?

An office environment presents a unique set of potential injuries from other lines of work. Working virtually 100% indoors, in a seated position, and usually talking on a phone, writing, or typing on a computer paves the way for some of the top injuries (back and neck pains, vision strains, pain in the hands and wrists) to develop.

Other injuries occur from mistakes that could happen anywhere; objects left out to trip over, furniture that is not well-maintained, faulty electrical cords, poor ventilation, lighting, and indoor air quality.

The Most Common Accident: Falls

Falling is not only the most common office accident, but it is also responsible for causing the most disabling injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Office workers are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer a disabling injury from a fall than non-office workers. The most common causes of office fall, according to the CDC, include:

• Tripping over an open desk or file drawer, electrical cords or wires, loose carpeting, or objects in hallways/walkways
• Bending or reaching for something while seated in an unstable chair
• Using a chair in place of a ladder
• Slipping on wet floors
• Inadequate lighting
• Look before you walk — make sure the walkway is clear
• If you’re done with a drawer, close it immediately
• Don’t stretch to reach something while seated. Get up instead
• Report any loose carpeting, electrical cords, etc. to someone who can have them fixed
• Help keep the office fall-proof. This means cleaning up spills from the floor (even if you didn’t spill it), picking up objects that are out of place, etc.
• Lift by squatting toward the floor (when lifting something from the floor) and then using your legs (not your back) to straighten up
• Allow your back to stay in a straight position
• Pick up the object with your entire hand (not just your fingers) and hold the load close to your body. Refrain from twisting
• To set something down, again use your legs for strength, not your back
• Adjust your chair so that your thighs are horizontal with the floor, your feet are flat, and the backrest supports your lower back. If your feet do not rest comfortably on the floor, use a footrest.
• Adjust your keyboard or chair height so that, while you’re typing, your elbows are at a 90-degree angle and your wrists are straight.
• Adjust your computer monitor so that the top of the screen is at your eye level.
• Use a document holder so your papers can be kept at the same level as your computer monitor.
• Make motions such as typing and stapling with the least amount of force possible.
• Adjust the window blinds or lighting so there is no glare on the computer screen.
• CPR qualified workers help save lives almost daily across the nation.
• First aid stations or kits should be kept stocked with fresh supplies. Even adhesive bandages have limited life spans, and their sterility can become compromised as they age. Quick response first aid supplies may include; cold packs, eye wash, and blood-stopping products such as sprays or ABD pads.
• Medications, particularly in individual dose packets (often referred to as unit-dose packets), may help ease pain and reduce sneezing or coughing.
• Supports for wrists and other joints help keep workers productive, reduce pain, and may promote healing. Elastic bandages, wrist wraps, and back braces can also be helpful.