Georgia Workers’ Compensation for Office Work Injuries & Conditions

Office work injuries: common causes and statistics

The most common causes of office accidents and injuries include:

• Slip and fall. Slip, trip and falls are by far the most common office accidents, and they’re responsible for causing the most disabling injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), office workers are up to 2.5 times more likely to be disabled from a fall than non-office workers. Disabling slip and fall injuries can be caused by wet and slippery floors, insufficient lighting, using a chair instead of a ladder to reach for something, and tripping over an electrical cord, furniture, loose carpeting or clutter on the floor.
• Non-ergonomic desks and workstations. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for 34 percent of all workplace injuries and over $15 billion in workers’ compensation costs each year. Sadly, many of these claims could have been prevented simply by adapting ergonomic desks, workstations, tools and equipment to reduce the stress on an office worker’s body. Sitting in an awkward position, straining your neck or wrist to use a computer and repetitive movements can put pressure on your tendons and ligaments over time, resulting in debilitating and painful occupational conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia and tendonitis.
• Workplace violence. Violence in the workplace is surprisingly common in the U.S., and it’s responsible for many non-fatal and fatal workplace injuries each year. In 2010 alone, 506 people were killed as a result of workplace homicide — over 11 percent of the total number of work-related deaths that year (4,547). When arguments and fights escalate in the office, serious injuries may result.
• Improper lifting. When heavy boxes of files or equipment are moved around an office, a worker may strain a muscle or overexert themselves while trying to lift it, especially if the object is stored in a high, difficult-to-reach location. Even seemingly lightweight objects such as a computer or small stack of paper can cause an injury to your shoulder, back or neck if not done correctly. In addition to supplying training on proper lifting techniques, your employer should provide workers’ compensation for any injury on the job that results from lifting or overexertion.
• Sedentary conditions. Office workers who are required to sit in a chair for hours on end and who aren’t permitted to take breaks may develop debilitating chronic back and neck pain over time, particularly in the low back region. According to a 2010 National Health Interview Survey, more than a quarter (25.7 percent) of all workers suffer from low back pain.
• Improperly stacked boxes or materials. When heavy boxes, printers, cubicles or other office materials fall over, an unsuspecting office worker can be crushed underneath.
• Loud noises. Office workers play an important role in many industries, and some jobs may require office staff to be around loud noises. In addition to causing gradual hearing loss over time, data suggests that workers who are regularly exposed to noise levels of 100 decibels or more (about the noise level standing next to a running lawn mower) have double the risk of being hospitalized for a workplace injury. According to the CDC, approximately 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous levels of occupational noise annually, making it the most common work-related illness in the U.S.
• Highly combustible materials. Most offices are full of highly combustible materials such as paper that can quickly catch fire. When a company or office manager fails to equip the office with working fire extinguishers and a fire breaks out, office workers can be severely burned as a result.
• Toxic fumes and chemicals. In small offices with poor ventilation, the air can become toxic and dangerous to employees’ health over time. These toxins can leach into the workspace from building materials, cleaning agents, mold, radon, ink and toner and other sources. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has reported an increasing number of investigations involving indoor toxins in recent years. Indoor air quality complaints now represent 80 to 90 percent of the agency’s current caseload (compared to only 6 percent in 1980). Hazardous fumes in the workplace can give rise to occupational illnesses and diseases that impact a person’s lungs, respiration, nervous system and internal organs.

What to do after a work-related office injury

Though you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits following an office accident or injury, they won’t be given to you automatically. You’ll have to take the proper steps and swift action to secure your right to recovery. For starters, it’s important to know that there is a deadline (statute of limitations) for workers’ compensation claims.

However, before you do that, you must look after your health and well-being by seeking immediate medical care if the injury is an emergency. If the injury is not an emergency, be sure to notify your employer within 30 days, according to Georgia statutes (but the earlier the better). Telling a coworker or your spouse doesn’t count; you’ll need to report the incident to a manager, supervisor or a human resources (HR) person. Your employer should provide you with the forms and resources you’ll need to file a claim, including a list of “authorized” doctors (known as the “panel of physicians”).

Next, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a doctor listed on your employer’s Panel of Physicians. Be sure to tell them honestly how and when the injury or illness arose, and be truthful about how it is impacting your life. Follow any treatment recommendations and take any prescriptions they give you.

After you’ve received medical attention, you’ll need to file a workers’ compensation claim. At this point, we recommend consulting with a knowledgeable work injury lawyer to ensure that you’ve taken all the proper steps and secure the maximum possible claim settlement. At the law firm of Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, we can help you file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer, appeal a denied claim and determine your rights to recovery.