Falling from an Office Chair

Whether falling from an office chair constitutes a work-related injury depends on the circumstances.

Circumstances Recognized as Work-Related Injuries

If an individual falls during working hours and within the workplace due to work-related reasons, or falls while performing preparatory or concluding tasks related to work before or after working hours, it is generally considered a work-related injury. For example, if an individual is sitting on an office chair processing documents during regular working hours and falls and gets injured due to the sudden breakage of the chair, meeting the three elements of working hours, workplace, and work-related reasons, it should be recognized as a work-related injury.

Circumstances Not Recognized as Work-Related Injuries

If the fall is due to non-work-related personal reasons, such as horseplay, it is usually not considered a work-related injury. For instance, if an individual falls accidentally while playing around or eating at their seat during working hours, it is unlikely to be recognized as a work-related injury.

Compensation Items and Standards (When Recognized as a Work-Related Injury)

• Medical Expenses: Includes registration fees, examination fees, treatment fees, medication costs, hospitalization fees, and other expenses that comply with the work-related injury insurance treatment item catalog, work-related injury insurance drug catalog, and work-related injury insurance hospitalization service standards, which are paid by the work-related injury insurance fund.
• Rehabilitation Expenses: Expenses for work-related injury rehabilitation incurred by injured workers at medical institutions that have signed service agreements, if in compliance with regulations, are paid by the work-related injury insurance fund.
• Hospitalization Food Allowance: The food allowance for workers hospitalized for work-related injury treatment, as well as transportation and accommodation expenses required for workers to seek medical treatment outside the coordinated area, with proof issued by a medical institution and approved by the handling agency, are paid by the work-related injury insurance fund. The specific payment standards are set by the people's government of the coordinated area.
• Wages During the Suspension of Work with Pay Retention Period: If a worker needs to suspend work to receive medical treatment for a work-related injury or occupational disease, their original wages and benefits remain unchanged during the suspension period and are paid monthly by the employing unit. The suspension period generally does not exceed 12 months. In cases of severe injuries or special circumstances, it can be appropriately extended upon confirmation by the municipal-level labor capacity appraisal committee, but the extension shall not exceed 12 months.

Application Process for Work-Related Injury Recognition

The employing unit shall apply for work-related injury recognition to the social insurance administrative department of the coordinated area within 30 days from the date of the accident. If the employing unit fails to apply within the specified time, the worker or their close relatives or trade union organization can directly apply to the social insurance administrative department of the coordinated area where the employing unit is located within 1 year from the date of the accident. When applying, a work-related injury recognition application form, proof materials of the labor relationship with the employing unit (including de facto labor relationship), medical diagnosis certificate or occupational disease diagnosis certificate (or occupational disease diagnosis appraisal certificate), and other materials are required.