Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

You may think you're safe working at your desk. In an office setting, employees typically don't think about work-related accidents in Chicago and you don't really think about the actual risks for one of these accidents in the safety of a cubicle. The truth of the matter is that office accidents and injuries are more common than many may think.

There are a number of instances that can result in injury on the job in an office. Workers can fall victim to a number of dangers in the office, including chemical hazards, dangerous work stations and equipment designs, poor ventilation, loud noise, light, humidity, temperature, psychological dangers, chemical risks and other environmental exposures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Don't simply assume that because you are not on a construction site that you are not at risk for injury. There are so many dangers in the office environment and workers are urged to examine their surroundings to help to prevent an office work accident in Illinois and elsewhere. The risk of the accidents can be easily minimized with a little precaution.

The key to reducing the chances of an office accident is a good design. What we mean by this is that each employee should be able to work comfortably without having to sit or stand for too long, without having to over-reach and without having to use awkward postures. Employees should work in the proper ergonomic design to reduce the risks of injury on the job.

If an employee isn't comfortable on the job, sometimes the change of furniture and equipment can be the most beneficial solution. In other instances, the equipment may be alright, but the way a job is done could be tweaked to help increase comfort and production.

In one example, we can look at the use of a computer by office employees. As technology advances, more and more workers are spending hours in front of a computer at work. Recent studies have concluded that those who work in front of a computer are likely to be more comfortable with a short break every hour.

Dangerous Situations in the Office:

-Walking over cords.

-Leaving desk drawers open.

-Falling objects from overhead.

-Job repetition, long duration of duties, etc.

-Biological and chemical sources of environment dangers.

-Job stress.

Some topics that the CDC discusses regarding office work injuries are alternative keyboards, carbonless copy paper, ergonomic and musculoskeletal injury prevention, the importance of air quality, minimizing work stresses, noise and hearing dangers, workplace violence, health and strenuous work schedules.

Visit the CDC's website to help ensure you are getting the most out of you work day, that you are comfortable on the job and that your risks for work-related injuries are minimized. A happy employee is a good employee.