Although offices are not typically associated with hazardous workplace environments, sitting behind a desk and typing on a keyboard or manipulating a mouse for hours on end could cause significant injuries. Repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome have caused many office workers in Georgia pain and long-term health problems. However, this is not the only risk that office environments pose.
Some of the most frequently reported injuries suffered by administrative workers involve falls. Clutter or randomly placed objects, a drawer that was left open, a handbag on the floor and a host of other causes are cited for trip-and-fall injuries. Spills are also common causes of falls, and all it takes is a splash of spilled coffee for someone to slip, fall and hit his or her head against a hard object, or fracture a bone.
Frequent lifting of boxes of printer paper, moving office furniture and other duties that involve lifting, pushing and carrying of heavy or awkwardly shaped objects can cause sprains, strains as well as torn muscles and ligaments. In the long-term, these injuries can cause overexertion and musculoskeletal disorders that might cause chronic pain. The most effective way to mitigate the hazards in offices is to bring about ergonomic changes to fit the jobs and workstations to the workers.
Victims of repetitive stress injuries or other work-related injuries suffered in office environments might have grounds to pursue claims for financial relief. However, some of these injuries are hidden, and proving them to be work-related might be challenging. This is where the support and guidance of an experienced Georgia workers’ compensation attorney can come in. A lawyer can help to obtain the necessary medical proof and assist with the navigation of the claims process to obtain compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.