If you work in an office in Hollywood, Florida, you may think that your job is relatively safe because you’re not exposed to heavy machinery, dangerous chemicals, or extreme heights like workers in construction and manufacturing.
However, office workers are not immune to workplace injuries. In fact, there are hazards in almost every office. Let’s take a closer look at the dangers you may face and what you need to know to stay safer at work.
Common On-the-Job Injuries for Hollywood Office Workers
Common injuries in offices include:
- Falls caused by tripping over cords, wires, loose carpeting, open drawers, or items left on the floor are quite common. Poor lighting, reaching or climbing from a chair to reach an object, and slipping on wet floors are other common causes of office falls.
- Lifting injuries caused by lifting documents, paper, printers, monitors, and other office items can cause injuries to the back, neck, and shoulder.
- Office workers can also be injured by being struck by or against objects, such as doors, cabinets, windows, or furniture.
- Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are one of the most common causes of office injuries. They’re caused by performing the same motion repeatedly for prolonged periods of time. RSIs can affect the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, or back and can be caused by talking on the phone, typing, stamping, and other repetitive motions. Some common examples of RSIs include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, and trigger finger.
- Ergonomic injuries happen when chairs, desks, monitors, keyboards, mice, phones, or other office components are not set up to each user’s unique needs, height, and weight. These injuries can cause vision problems, muscle injuries or aches, fatigue, headaches, and eye strain.
Preventing Workplace Injuries in Hollywood Offices
If you work in an office, you’ll want to use the following tips to avoid injury:
- Get safety training.
- Use dollies or proper lifting techniques when lifting anything heavy.
- Make sure top-heavy furniture such as bookshelves are secured to the walls.
- Report loose tiles, torn carpeting, dim lighting, and other dangers promptly.
- Adjust your monitor, chair, and other equipment according to ergonomic guidelines.
- Take breaks during repetitive tasks.
- Remove clutter from your work area and
What You Can Do If You Suffer an Injury at Your Office Job
Even if you take care to avoid injury at your office workplace, accidents happen. If you’re injured during the course of your regular work duties, you may be covered by workers’ compensation insurance, which help replace some of your lost income, pays all your necessary medical bills, and can offer additional benefits.
Many workers in Florida’s offices are covered by workers’ compensation. If you are having trouble getting your rightful benefits or if your employer didn’t get coverage for you when they were required to, contact Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 to speak with a Florida workplace injury claims attorney.
Our offices in Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood serve the whole Southern Florida area and we’re happy to offer a free accident consultation so you can discuss your situation with a member of our legal team.