Preventing Overexertion Injuries At Work  Safety

Preventing Overexertion Injuries At Work 

Preventing overexertion injuries at work can seem like a daunting task. There are several ways that that an overexertion injury can occur while working. The most common is caused when a person carries, lifts, pushes, or pulls something that is to heavy and it causes stress to occur on the joints in the body. Other overexertion injuries are a side effect of repeated bending at the waist and long term poor posture while sitting at work. These injuries are more often known as strains and sprains. Strains occur when the muscles are stretched or tear while sprains are caused by the stretching or tearing of a ligament.

Reducing Overexertion Injuries in the Workplace

There are quite a few things you and others at work can do to reduce and prevent overexertion at work. By following the tips below you will be able to work safely and be assured that you are not promoting unsafe at that could cause injuries.

  1. Most overexertion injuries happen when a person is in a hurry to finish the task they are trying to accomplish. Moving too quickly can stress the tendons and muscles.
  2. Take the time to position your body correctly before you lift or move anything. It only takes a few seconds to position yourself correctly in order to prevent an overexertion injury form occurring.
  3. Bend at the knees when lifting. These will reduce the strain that is put on you back when lifting heavy objects.
  4. Walk in a straight line and if possible avoid twisting your legs or torso to the side. Keep all parts of your body facing the same direction at all times.
  5. Have a plan before you lift. Know exactly where you are going and the route you are planning to take. Make sure there are no tripping hazards on your way and that the area you area heading to is clean.
  6. Keeping the object as close to your body as possible will help to greatly reduce the stress on your muscles.
  7. When reaching for something try to stand as close as possible. This will reduce the injuries that could occur such as stretching a tendon too far.
  8. If your company uses large shelves try to avoid pushing products all the way to the back. The closer it is to the front of the shelf the less you will have to strain to remove it when needed.
  9. If you feel the object is too heavy to lift alone you should immediately ask for help.
  10. Mobile lifts are a great way to get product on high shelves. They will help prevent you from lifting over your head which can be extremely dangerous.
  11. You can reduce the need to bend by storing boxes on elevated platforms.

It is easy to prevent overexertion at work if you just take the time to stop and think before you complete the task at hand. Taking five minutes to make a safety plan is worth the time if it helps to prevent unnecessary injuries.