Staying Safe at Your Desk Job

Staying Safe at Your Desk Job

Although jobs like law enforcement, firefighting, and construction are among the riskiest, office workers are not immune to getting hurt at work. In fact, office workers are at a high risk of suffering from workplace injuries in San Jose such as repetitive strain injuries. Over time, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendinitis, and even degenerative disc disease can develop. If you have been hurt at work, consider talking to a workers’ compensation attorney about your case. In the meantime, follow these tips to help you stay safe at your desk.

Using the Phone

Using the phone might seem innocuous enough, but this depends on how you hold the phone to your ear. Many office workers must talk on the phone and type at the same time. This often forces them to tilt the head sideways to hold the phone between the ear and the shoulder. If this is done often enough or for a long period of time, it can lead to serious pain of the neck and shoulder. One way to combat this problem is to put the phone on speaker mode. Another is to use a headrest designed specifically for landline phones. Or, consider using a hands-free headset.

Dealing with Office Clutter

Office clutter might not seem particularly hazardous, but it’s all too easy to trip over stacks of files and extension cords that lie along the floor. This is especially true when someone is carrying a large item and his or her field of vision is obstructed. Since falls can lead to fractures and other painful injuries, it’s best to keep clutter off the floor.

Minimizing Physical Stress

If your workstation isn’t set up in an ergonomically correct fashion, then you’re subjecting your body to unnecessary physical stress that can lead to repetitive strain injuries over time. Keep your body in a neutral alignment by adjusting your chair so that your feet can rest flat on the floor. Sit naturally; avoid slouching over or slumping backward.

Taking Breaks

Your health can suffer if you sit in the same position for too long. Every 30 to 60 minutes, stand up and walk around or stretch. For the sake of your eyes, you should also look away from your computer screen for at least 20 seconds at 20-minute intervals.