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A new survey has shown that nearly three quarters of office workers regularly suffer from aches and pains that are caused by their jobs. Of the 2,000 employees surveyed, 43% said that they suffered from eye-strain and 32% that they experienced severe headaches. Slightly fewer than 25% said that their suffering had led them to consult with an optician within the past year.

The survey, carried out by Printerland.co.uk also found that 31% of employees had suffered from neck pain and up to 39% of them had struggled on with back pain on a regular basis. When looking further into the results it appeared that 70% of those questioned confessed that they do not have their desks set up in an ergonomically acceptable way, while 29% said that their screen was not at eye-level and 38% do not have their keyboard level with their arms.

In a separate study by AXA Healthcare, they found that the average UK office worker sits down for around nine hours every day. Also from this study we discover that 10% of office workers said that cold and flu bugs get passed around their offices at least every three weeks.

Surely no employer would encourage one of their employees to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, or suggest an employee to remain within a burning building, yet issues of office health and safety can often fall by the wayside, to the detriment of the employees and the employer.

Employers have a duty under health and safety law to protect the welfare of their workers; not only from direct hazards such as fire, but also when it comes to long term health, including the reduction or elimination of repetitive strain injuries caused within the workplace. If you find yourself in pain due to your working conditions, you must communicate this with your employer so that they can look into ways to reduce your suffering, and avoid laying the same risks upon other employees. If you your employer fails to take your concerns seriously, you might need to contact the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) for advice as to how to ensure your safety. Ultimately if you are injured as a result of your employer’s negligence, you could well be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Our solicitors have years of experience in handling claims regarding workplace injuries; from slips and trips to long-term disabilities due to working conditions. Contact us today for free, with no obligation, so we can discuss your case with you and see how we can help you get the compensation that you deserve.