Secretary Injuries
Secretaries, commonly known as administrative assistants, are tasked with a wide variety of jobs at many different types of workplaces and in various industries. Secretaries primarily work behind desks and at computers, but they can sometimes be tasked with other types of office jobs, as well. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) clarifies, the particular tasks of a secretary will depend upon the type of secretary job. Some common types of secretaries or administrative assistants include executive secretaries, legal secretaries, and medical secretaries. Just like people in other professions, secretaries can suffer debilitating injuries on the job. What kinds of injuries are most common, and how can secretaries seek workers’ compensation benefits? Our Sunrise workers’ compensation lawyers have information that can help you.
Job Responsibilities and Injury Risks for Secretaries
In order to understand the types of injuries that are common for secretaries and administrative assistants, it is important to know more about the most common types of job tasks in these lines of work. According to the BLS, the following are the most frequent work duties performed by secretaries and administrative assistants in various fields and industries:
- Answering phones and taking telephone messages;
- Scheduling calendar appointments and managing calendars;
- Arranging staff meetings;
- Handling mailings;
- Preparing documents, such as memos or invoices or reports;
- Creating presentations;
- Negotiating with vendors;
- Ordering office supplies;
- Handling videoconferencing;
- Editing documents;
- Maintaining office equipment;
- Maintaining workplace databases;
- Maintaining filing systems; and
- Performing basic bookkeeping tasks.
Common Secretary and Administrative Assistant Injuries
Given that secretaries and administrative assistants commonly perform their jobs at desks and while working on computers, many workplace injuries are overuse injuries associated with prolonged sitting and prolonged typing. In addition, office workers like secretaries can suffer slip and fall injuries in the workplace while moving from one office location to another. When secretaries are required to maintain certain workplace equipment, such as copy machines or shredders, they can suffer additional types of injuries. Some of the most common secretary injuries include but are not limited to:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome;
- Back injuries from prolonged sitting and posture issues;
- Repetitive motion or repetitive strain injuries;
- Slips and falls; and
- Cuts or lacerations.
How to Seek Compensation for a Secretary Work Injury
To seek compensation for a secretary injury, it is essential to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible, but at a maximum within 30 days from the date of the injury. You will also need to seek medical attention from a provider approved by your employer or the insurance company to have medical evidence to support your claim. A workers’ compensation lawyer can begin working with you today to ensure that
Contact a Sunrise Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you were working as a secretary or administrative assistant and suffered a job-related injury, it is important to learn more about your options for workers’ compensation. One of the experienced Sunrise workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. can speak with you today about your case and can help you to seek the benefits you need.
Sources:
bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm#tab-2
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440ContentsIndex.html
