Lessen Injury in the Workplace With These Workspace Modifications

 Posted on December 30, 2020 in Workers' Compensation

Although accidents do cause workplace injuries, there are other ways that you can be injured while working. For example, sitting for long hours at a desk and looking at a computer monitor for an extended period can cause bodily harm. Soft tissue injuries, back pain and neck issues are just some of the injuries that can occur after spending too much time in uncomfortable work positions. In addition, repetitive motions can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis and other painful conditions. Fortunately, there are ways that you can lessen injury in the workplace. If you consistently spend long hours at your desk, then you should consider these work space modifications.

Adjusting Your Chair

It is important for your office chair to accommodate your height and posture. Therefore, you should adjust your chair to help you sit properly with both feet on the floor or on a footrest. Also, keep your thighs parallel to the floor to alleviate back pain.

Moving Your Keyboard

Along with office chairs, many office employees use keyboards on a daily basis. As a result, many people experience pain in their wrists and fingers. To reduce the risk for carpal tunnel, keep your keyboard lying flat always. Also, keep your wrists parallel to the floor and resist the urge to lean forward when typing.

Rearranging Your Monitor

While adjusting office chairs and moving keyboards are important work space modifications, many people forget to rearrange their monitor. For instance, monitors that sit too high or too low can cause injury to your eyes and neck. Thus, you should adjust your monitor so that the top line is just below your eye level. This will help you look at your monitor without craning your neck and reduce your risk for neck pain.

Adding Additional Lighting

In many offices, the light coming from traditional light sources is often not sufficient. To help with this, you should consider increasing the amount of lighting surrounding your work space. This will help reduce the strain on your eyes. One way of achieving this goal is by adding a desk lamp or by adjusting the lighting on your computer monitor to a brighter setting.

Acquiring a Standing Desk

Finally, you should consider acquiring a standing desk. For many people, sitting for the majority of the day is not good for your body. It can lead to increased stiffness in your hips, back and shoulders, among other injuries. To combat this, you should consider changing to a standing desk to help you switch positions more frequently during the day.

Questions About the Workers Comp Process in California Our Attorneys Offer a Free Consultation

If you have suffered from back or neck pain due to an overuse injury, then you may have a workers' compensation claim. Workers' compensation benefits are available to workers who suffer from soft tissue injuries due to workload or working conditions. However, proving these claims is difficult without the help of an experienced Gilroy workers' compensation lawyer. Contact us today at (408) 848-1113 or fill out our confidential contact form for a free consultation. We can help you obtain the benefits you need after a workplace accident.