Over the past two decades, new medical research has demonstrated that office workers who spend long hours at their desk being inactive or idle, are at risk of developing DVT. Researchers found that people reported working for 14 hours a day with some individuals working for three to four hours at a time without getting up. Employees most at risk were those working for call centres and the IT sector.

What is DVT?

A'deep vein thrombosis' (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the lower leg or thigh. However, DVT clots can also occur in the other parts of the body.

DVT is usually associated with long periods of immobility and/or in association with traumatic injuries to the lower limbs (such as after surgery or a long-haul flight). Common symptoms include:

• swelling of the leg or lower limb
• calf or leg pain or tenderness
• warm skin
• discolouration of the legs.

In addition, these blood clots can block blood flow in the lungs resulting in pulmonary embolism.

Is DVT covered under Victorian Workers' Compensation?

DVT can result from trauma or injury. If a worker has sustained DVT by virtue of their employment then the DVT condition may be considered compensable under the Victorian worker's compensation scheme. It is important that a qualified physician supports a finding that the DVT was caused by an underlying workplace injury.

A worker's compensation claim for DVT can be complicated requiring the assistance of an experienced lawyer. If you or a loved one has suffered from DVT or pulmonary embolism following a workplace injury, we encourage you to contact Redlich's Work Injury Lawyers for a free consultation on (03) 9321 9988.