Common Work Injuries in Desk Jobs
In California, employers are required to take safety measures to protect their workforce. Some employers may not take suitable measures to safeguard their employees. While some jobs may be inherently dangerous, like construction workers, truck drivers, or roofers, that doesn’t mean that there are hazard-free jobs.
With today’s workplace evolving to more computer and electronic use, employees are spending more times standing or sitting at desks. Even with more sedentary jobs like those at an office desk, injuries can still occur even if you work from home. Even if not so obvious from the onset, desk jobs have the potential to cause prolonged and chronic pain. These injuries also have the potential to cause significant financial difficulties for the victim.
If you’ve been injured at your workspace, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Our California workers’ compensation lawyers at Castillo & Associates can help you. Below are common workplace injuries for desk jobs.
Office Jobs Often Cause Back, Neck, and Shoulder Pain
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk cause stress on your body. Sitting can cause increased strain on muscles, joints, and ligaments. Depending on your seated position, such as crossing your legs, can also lead to decreased blood flow.
Posture matters. Neck and shoulder pain can occur when your computer screen is not at eye-level. It is unnatural to look down or up at a computer monitor for hours.
Heavy lifting can also cause back, neck, and shoulder injuries. Between 2010 and 2014, an average of 56,500 workers were injured because they lifted heavy objects. Some desk jobs may require reviewing files. Those heavy files may be stored in boxes on the floor, requiring the employee to lift those boxes. Bending and lifting can result in back and shoulder injuries. The employer can be held liable if the injury happened while the employee was performing a work-related task.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Repetitive stress injuries are caused by repetitive motion movements. This can include small actions of clicking your mouse and typing on your keyboard. These repetitive movements can cause swelling of ligaments and burning sensation in the hands, limiting mobility. Repetitive stress injury is the second common cause of workplace injuries in California. On average, around 31,300 workers get injured annually due to repetitive motion in the state. While some can be temporary, repetitive movements have the potential to result in permanent nerve damage, muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
Slip and Fall Accidents
In California, slip and fall accidents were the third common cause of workplace injuries. Even employees who spend a majority of their time at a desk have the potential to slip and fall in the workplace. There can be a slippery surface caused by inclement weather or a spill. Employers are also responsible for items left on the floor that could cause an employee to slip and fall.
Eyestrain
Desk jobs with computer monitors can cause eyestrain. Looking at a bright computer monitor for excessive periods of time can damage a person’s vision. Additionally, the light emitting from the monitor can cause headaches, blurred vision, and short-sightedness.
If you begin to experience these injuries, an experienced attorney can help you document your case. As will workplace-related injuries, an employer can be held responsible if the injuries are sustained while performing a work-related task.
Hearing Damage
Even when you work at a desk job, the surrounding environment may be loud. Loud noises have the potential to impact your hearing. Loud operating machinery, persistent high pitch ringing, computers, and other equipment can slowly erode a person’s ear. The loud noises can eventually cause hearing loss.
Workplace Insurance
Employers in California are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Employees who are harmed while performing a work-related task can benefit from filing a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp should cover medical care and temporary or permanent disability. In the most unfortunate circumstances, workers’ comp also covers death benefits for the deceased’s family.
Chronic pain and discomfort due to time sitting or standing at a desk qualify as workplace injuries. Injury claims for neck, back, shoulder, leg, and foot pain are all injuries that qualify for workers’ compensation claims.
Contacting a Law Firm Regarding Your Work Injury
If your pain or injury was caused by your working conditions, you should file a worker’s compensation claim. Even if your employer denies the claim, you may still be entitled to benefit from workers’ comp. Our experienced attorneys at Castillo & Associates can help you gather any evidence you may need to get the maximum benefits for your injury. Contact us today at 1-800-497-9774.
Attorney Domingo Castillo handles workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law & immigration throughout Southern California from our 5 offices: Indio, Pomona, Riverside, San Diego & Cathedral City. We help clients file injury claims, obtain residency & citizenship, and we assist families through divorce, child custody and all family law matters.
