Injured by an Office Chair

Being injured by an office chair can involve various situations and requires handling based on the specific type of injury and scenario, with some cases potentially qualifying as work-related injuries.

Explosion Injuries from Rotating and Adjustable Chairs

Rotating and adjustable chairs (commonly known as 'exploding chairs') carry a risk of explosion, primarily due to substandard materials in the pneumatic rods, insufficient gas purity, or potential explosions in high-temperature environments or with frequent friction. Explosions can result in severe injuries to the user or even be life-threatening, with minor cases involving intense pain and severe cases potentially leading to internal organ damage or fatal bleeding. Such accidents are often related to quality defects in the chairs. Before use, check if the pneumatic rod has a 3C certification, avoid purchasing unbranded products, and refrain from prolonged exposure to sunlight or frequent height adjustments.

Work-Related Injury Determination for Falls from Chairs

According to Article 14 of the 'Regulations on Work-Related Injury Insurance', falls and injuries sustained during working hours and at the workplace due to work-related reasons (such as chair damage, slippery floors, or other factors directly related to work) can be recognized as work-related injuries. However, note the following special circumstances:

• Factors affecting determination: Whether the chair damage was due to intentional destruction or improper use (such as unauthorized modifications), the severity of the injury and medical treatment received, and whether there was a violation of workplace safety regulations (such as falling while not wearing a safety harness during high-altitude operations).
• Circumstances not qualifying as work-related injuries: If the injury was caused by intentional criminal acts, intoxication or drug use, self-harm, or suicide, it cannot be recognized as a work-related injury.

Handling Chest and Back Injuries from Chair Back Impacts

1. Initial Self-Assessment: Take deep breaths, cough, and turn around to observe if breathing or internal organ function is affected. If there is no severe increase in pain or difficulty breathing, treat it as a common soft tissue contusion; if symptoms such as rapid breathing, coughing up blood, or persistent dizziness occur, seek medical attention immediately.
2. Treatment Steps:
   • Acute Phase (within 24 hours): Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling and pain.
   • Subacute Phase (after 24-48 hours): Apply hot compresses to promote blood circulation.
   • Pain Management: Use topical ointments or patches for blood circulation and pain relief when pain is significant; if pain affects sleep or daily activities, take oral pain relievers as prescribed by a doctor.
3. Situations Requiring Immediate Medical Attention: Increased chest pain during deep breathing, coughing, or turning over; coughing up blood or blood in sputum; persistent dizziness, cold sweats, or rapid heartbeat after injury; sharp pain when pressing on a specific rib point (suspected rib fracture or crack); back pain persisting for more than a week without relief or worsening.