Most Florida residents who work in an office setting do not typically fear serious work accidents or injuries. However, several health risks are associated with office building employment. You probably already know about carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive movement injuries, but did you know your office could make you ill?
Sick building syndrome and building-related illness are two maladies that often afflict office workers. If you weren’t aware of these issues, chances are you also don’t realize that workers’ compensation typically covers these illnesses. Before you can file a claim, however, you need to get a diagnosis for any symptoms you may experience.
Sick Building Syndrome symptoms:
- Itchy, dry skin
- Unexplained headaches
- Trouble concentrating
- Fatigue, nausea and dizziness
- Persistent dry cough
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
Building-Related Illness symptoms:
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Unexplained rashes as well as dry, itchy skin
- Throat pain and/or tightness
- Eye irritation (wateriness, itchiness, etc.)
- Headaches and lethargy
- Difficulty maintaining concentration
As stated earlier, you can certainly file a workers’ compensation claim to help you pay for the medical treatment associated with these conditions. The problem is that they may be difficult to diagnose. Even when you do get a proper diagnosis, your employer or a workers’ comp representative may deny your claim.
To protect your health going forward and to cover your medical needs right now, we recommend seeking help from an attorney. Together, you can address your claim denial and work to secure the workers’ compensation benefits that you need to get better. We also recommend that all Orlando employers take steps to have their headquarters’ evaluated for Sick Building Syndrome as well as Building-Related Illness factors.