Head Injury from Office Chair Fall

Falling and injuring the head due to a damaged office chair during work hours may be recognized as a work-related injury under certain conditions. Here is a detailed analysis:

Core Elements of Work-Related Injury Recognition

According to Article 14, Item 1 of the Regulations on Work-Related Injury Insurance, three core conditions must be met for work-related injury recognition: working hours, workplace, and work-related reasons. If the fall occurs during regular working hours and within the office area (such as at the desk), it meets the time and place requirements. The work-related reason is crucial: if the chair breaks due to normal wear and tear or quality issues, leading to the fall, it is directly related to work and can be recognized as a work-related injury; however, if the damage is caused by intentional destruction (such as kicking the chair) or improper use (such as standing on a folding chair to reach high places), it may be excluded from work-related injury coverage.

Injury Treatment Recommendations

After a head injury, observe the symptoms immediately:

• Mild symptoms (such as local swelling and slight pain): Apply ice to reduce swelling and continuously observe for 48 hours, avoiding strenuous exercise or head movement.
• Severe symptoms (such as severe headache, vomiting, limb numbness, persistent bleeding from the wound, or loss of consciousness): Seek medical attention immediately, as these may involve concussion or intracranial injury, requiring CT scans or other examinations to rule out risks.
  Note: Even if symptoms temporarily subside, closely monitor subsequent changes, as some intracranial injuries may appear later.

Work-Related Injury Recognition Process

1. Employer Application: Within 30 days of the accident, the employer must submit a work-related injury recognition application to the social security department, providing materials such as the labor contract and medical diagnosis certificate.
2. Individual Application: If the employer fails to apply, the employee or their close relatives may directly apply to the social security department within one year, supplementing with proof of labor relations (such as pay stubs, attendance records) and a description of the accident.
3. Investigation and Conclusion: The social security department will investigate the cause of the accident (such as chair quality, usage method) and make a recognition conclusion based on medical evidence, usually within 60 days.

Case Warning

Japanese manga artist Toshinori Yano fell from a folding chair while reaching for something, hitting his head on the table and bleeding. Although it was an accident, it may not meet the conditions for work-related injury recognition due to the lack of direct work-related reasons (the act of reaching was unrelated to the core work content). Tip: Injuries caused by non-normal work behaviors (such as violating regulations or performing dangerous actions) may affect the work-related injury recognition result, which should be judged based on the "necessity of work".