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Office workers are not immune from jobsite injuries
Hardly a day goes by when you probably do not hear about a construction, electrical or another type of accident. If you work in an office, though, you are not immune from injuries at your jobsite. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 76,000 office workers sustain a debilitating injury at work every single year.
As an office worker, you likely know about both ergonomics and carpel tunnel syndrome. You may not realize, though, there are a variety of ways to injure yourself at work. Here are some common causes of office workplace injuries.
- Falls
Arguably the most common way to sustain a serious injury in an office environment is to slip or trip and fall. Loose carpet, desk chair mats and wet floors all contribute to this type of injury. While repairing damaged flooring and wiping up spills are effective ways to minimize falls, Pennsylvania’s cold and wet winters may cause your risk to rise.
- Lifting
While most office workers do not routinely lift heavy items, you probably regularly lift between 10 and 50 pounds. A box of printer paper may weigh even more. If you are not careful when lifting heavy objects, you may injure your back, neck, shoulders or legs. Even worse, if you do not regularly lift heavy loads, you may have an increased risk of sustaining a serious injury when trying to lift or move something heavy.
- Repetitive stress motions
Because they tend to work long hours at computers, office workers may have a greater likelihood of developing repetitive stress injuries. These injuries occur when you repeat the same motions time and again. While having good posture, taking breaks and investing in equipment that minimizes these injuries is a good idea, you should also watch for the warning signs of a repetitive stress injury.
As you can see, while office workers do not face the same risks as many other employees, they are not immune from jobsite injuries. By understanding how these injuries tend to occur, you can better plan for staying safe behind your desk.