What injuries can you suffer working in an office?

You might think working in an office is fairly safe. Working at a desk all day may seem low-risk. While you might not be in danger of suffering the same injuries as a construction worker or a factory worker, there are still potential risks in an office.

Office workers and desk-bound workers can get injured too. What injuries might a desk worker have at work?

Common office injuries

Office injuries are more common than you might think. Here are five common injuries that occur in an office environment:

• Slip and falls – from tripping over an open drawer or loose cord
• Eye strain – from looking at a computer screen
• Carpal tunnel and other RTM injuries – from typing or writing consistently
• Back injuries and other musculoskeletal issues – from a poorly structured chair or desk

Can you prevent them?

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the chances of these injuries.

Slip and falls can sometime be prevented by staying more vigilant. Pay attention to where you are going and try not to get distracted while walking. Eye strain can be prevented by taking a break away from looking at your computer screen ever hour or so. Blue-light filtering glasses can also mitigate the negative effects of a computer screen on your eyes.

Proper work station ergonomics can also help prevent a variety of work injuries. Make sure your computer screen, chair and desk are all aligned properly and provide the correct support. This can help prevent carpal tunnel as well as various back and neck injuries.

According to the National Safety Council, a worker is injured every seven seconds while at work. However, while you may work to prevent these injuries, some are unpreventable and unavoidable.