Accidents Involving Office Workers

Compared to warehouses, factories, oil rigs and construction sites, offices may not be among the most dangerous places to work. But, there are still risks of hazards and dangers. Every day, there are cases where office workers get involved in accidents which could have easily been prevented and sustain injuries. If you work in an office and have been hurt as a result of an accident, you may be eligible to make an injury claim.

Workplace Regulations impose a number of duties on employers. Under these regulations, the employer is legally obliged to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of their workers and visitors at the workplace. If the employer does not fulfill his duties and if someone gets injured in an accident in the office, whether it is a worker or a visitor, the injured party will be eligible to put up an injury claim for compensation.

Common Types Of Office Related Accidents

Given below are some of the common types of accidents which affect office workers.

Slips and Trips

Slips and trips are quite common in an office environment because such accidents can be caused by spillages on the floor, damaged carpets, cables from computers and other electrical equipment, files and boxes left on the floor, other obstructions on the floor and entryway, etc.

To prevent slips and trips accidents in an office, it is important that risk assessments are carried out on a regular basis.

Burn Injuries and Electric Shocks

In an office, workers are required to make use of a number of different kinds of electrical equipments such as printers, computers, photocopiers, scanners, fax machines, shredders, etc. By law, it is required that all electrical equipment is maintained in good working order. If they are not, they can lead to accidents and injuries such as burn injuries and electric shocks. Workers who have not received adequate training on how to operate these equipments can also get involved in accidents easily. Even if the accident was caused as a result of lack of training or inadequate training provided by the employer, you may be entitled to make injury claims.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Gas fires and central heating boilers used at the workplace must be properly maintained and checked on a regular basis. If they are not, they can emit dangerous fumes and cause carbon monoxide poisoning in workers. If you develop carbon monoxide poisoning at work because your employer was negligent to keep gas appliances in good condition, you may be able to put up a work injury claim.