Workplace Injuries: The Office Environment
When you think of injuries in the workplace, you probably think about those TV advertisements with a man falling from a ladder or a woman slipping on a wet floor in a hospital corridor. You might think that your office environment is one of the safest places you could possibly work—but that doesn’t mean you and your colleagues are totally invulnerable to injuries in the workplace.
Though offices rarely involve dangerous activities like heavy lifting, climbing ladders, or using heavy machinery, injuries at work still happen. Whether you’re in a receptionist job, an office support role, or are working as a personal assistant, you could still end up with an illness or injury at work.
As London’s leading PA recruitment agency, we don’t just like to find our candidates jobs, but also keep them happy and healthy in them! So let’s take a look at some of the most common office workplace injuries, and how you can prevent them.
Slips, trips, and falls
A slip or trip can happen absolutely anywhere, even in your regular old carpeted office. In 2015/16, almost a fifth of all workplace accidents were slips, trips, or falls. A trailing wire, a misplaced floor tile, or simply losing your balance can cause you to fall—and the resulting injuries range from minor bruising (to the ego as well as the body!) to severe sprains or even broken bones.
You can’t guarantee that you’re never going to slip or fall in the office again, but you can take steps to prevent it. Avoid walking on floors that have recently been mopped, take care going up and down staircases (no hurtling up and down trying to impress your boss in your temporary PA job), and make sure your bosses use hazard tape to flag up hazards that could cause an accident.
Workstation injuries
If you’re working in a permanent PA job or some other kind of office support role, you probably spend most of your day sitting at your desk, staring at your computer. It might not feel particularly dangerous, but this can have a really detrimental effect on your body. If your seat or desk is at the wrong height or angle, for example, it can cause muscle strain and poor posture, leading to back problems. If you don’t have the appropriate wrist supports for your keyboard and mouse, you could end up with carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.
Invest in ergonomic equipment, or encourage your bosses to do so. This will help you to feel more comfortable at work and reduce the risk of you suffering an injury simply because you’ve spent too long at your desk.
Lifting
Offices aren’t generally known for having masses of heavy loads for workers to carry around—but you still might have to carry a box of files here or a stack of documents there. If you’re not carrying things correctly, you can suffer from back, shoulder, and neck strain, which can then go on to affect your work.
Practice good lifting technique at all times—and if you’re stuck, don’t be afraid to ask a co-worker for help.
For all the latest workplace safety tips and office-based vacancies from a top London PA recruitment agency, stay tuned to the Love Success blog!
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