Office Accident Compensation

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Office Work Accidents

Office environments have traditionally been viewed as among the safest of places to work. Over the years however the number of people working in offices has risen exponentially along with the number of hours workers spend in the office. At the same time personal space in offices has been consistently reduced, office equipment has increased in size and complexity, and working practices have become sedentary. All these factors have combined to heighten the risk of office accidents. Apart from accidents such as slips and trips, the real statistics that should worry employers are those showing that up to two thirds of office workers suffer from some form of repetitive strain injury (RSI). Until employers take radical measures to reduce this epidemic, they face the prospect of a blizzard of compensation claims from injured employees over the next 20-30 years.

Typical Causes Of Office Accidents

Because a large number of office accidents go unreported official figures should be treated with care. However, a six year study compiled by the HSE sheds light on the major causes of office injuries. Around half of the major injuries reported over this period resulted from slips and trips. Accidents were mainly caused by slippery surfaces, employees losing their footing, falls caused by obstructions such as cables, slips on stairs, and falls caused by uneven surfaces. Roughly a quarter of such injuries involved falls from height, such as falls down stairs, accidents involving ladders, and falls from other types of workplace equipment such as chairs and racking. Other types of injury occurred following employees being struck by moving objects falling from shelves or tables, and accidents involving collisions with fixed objects, such as desks and walls. Office accidents involving manual handling represented only 5% of major injuries, but accounted for almost a third of injuries that required over 3 days off work. These were commonly caused by the handling, lifting and carrying of heavy and awkward objects, such as crates of files for example. Electrical equipment and appliances also pose the threat of electric shocks to workers, especially where they are faulty or poorly maintained. The most common type of major injury to office workers are fractures, while sprains and strains are the most common type of injury requiring more than 3 days off work.

Office Accident Injuries

The other major category of injuries affecting office workers are those that develop over time, related to excessive small repetitive motions in the upper body which cause conditions known collectively as repetitive strain injury (RSI). These can result in permanent nerve damage over time. Often these conditions are due to the poor ergonomics of seating and computer work stations, which force employees to adopt awkward postures while performing tasks such as typing. This can place constant strain on muscles and tendons in the neck, shoulders, back, arms, elbows, wrists, thumbs and fingers, leading to gradual deterioration over time and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis developing. Offices are often high pressure environments with employees subject to considerable mental stress. These conditions will cause further tension in the body's muscles, tendons and soft tissues. Office workers also increasingly use laptops and handheld devices such as Blackberries outside the office and on the move, which particularly places strain on the back, neck, wrists and thumbs.

Office Accident Compensation Claims

An employer must take all reasonable steps to reduce the risk of office accidents occurring. Floors and stairs should be maintained in good condition, and kept free from obstacles and obstructions. Regular risk assessments should be carried out to identify and eliminate potential hazards. Machinery and office equipment must also be adequately maintained and subject to regular checks. Safety measures should be put in place and appropriate office equipment provided, wrist rests for use with computer keyboards for example, to reduce the risk of repetitive strain conditions developing. Workers should also receive proper training in posture and workstation ergonomics.

Bartletts Solicitors are specialists in handling office accident and injury compensation claims. We operate on a no win no fee basis meaning if you win your case your employer's insurance company will pay all of your legal fees, and if you lose you will not pay a penny.

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