Tips For Avoiding Work Injuries

11 Jan Tips For Avoiding Work Injuries

For many, physical work can be incredibly taxing on the body. When you throw an injury into the mix, it tends only to make things worse. Whether you work in construction or spend nine to five hours sitting in front of a computer screen in your office, workplace injuries can affect anyone. Our team at East End Occupational Therapy understands this and is here to help. We want to take some time to discuss the most common types of workplace injuries and what can be done to avoid them.

Injuries Commonly Found In The Workplace  

As previously stated, no matter what you do for a living, the risk of sustaining an injury due to your line of work is always there. Trying to work through an injury is often considered noble, however it will only cause the damage your body sustained to become worse. Fortunately, if you find yourself in this situation, our team can help. Our occupational therapy services can be used to treat a wide range of the most common workplace issues, which include the below:

• Muscle strains and tears.
• Ligamentous issues.
• Bone breaks and fractures.
• Dislocations.
• Overuse injuries.
• Neck, back, and shoulder pain.
• Cuts and lacerations.

Although treatment will be performed promptly by our team, it will still take time for your injury to heal fully. That is why it’s essential to try and avoid workplace injuries when you can. By following the advice our team lays out, you’ll keep your body protected and prevent the need to visit a doctor’s office.

Use The Right Posture

It’s easy for those with office jobs to think that nothing can go wrong with your health. However, that is not true. If you’re sitting incorrectly with your neck hunched over, looking at your screen all day, you may develop neck and back pain. To help you avoid this, we recommend the below:

• Keep the monitor an arm’s length away from you.
• Wrists need to be kept straight.
• Hands should be at or below elbow level.
• The feet should lay flat on the floor.
• Your back should be pressed against the end of your chair.
• The top of your screen should be slightly below eye level.

Wear The Right Gear

For jobs that require more physical tasks, wearing the right gear can help save you from injury. By making sure certain parts of your body are covered with this equipment before each shift, you’ll significantly reduce the chances of suffering severe injuries. Examples of the gear one should consider wearing include:

• Hard hats.
• Gloves.
• Safety goggles.
• Knee pads.
• Protective gloves.
• Lower back support belt.

Clean Spills Immediately

Did you know that spills can be one of the most common causes of workplace injuries? If the floor isn’t dry and clean, it can lead to unsuspecting workers slipping and sustaining a severe injury. That is why we highly recommend cleaning up a spill the second you notice one has occurred.

Additional Injury Prevention Tips

With so many types and causes of injury that can occur while a person is working, you must have as many prevention methods at your disposal as possible. That is why our team at East End Occupation Therapy would like to provide these additional tips to help keep you healthy and pain-free:

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Make sure you or your company marks hazardous areas of your worksite.
• Attend or host regular safety meetings.
• Stay hydrated throughout your shift.
• Check all equipment before operation.

Contact Our Team

If you suffer an injury after taking part in these prevention methods, don’t fret. Our team at East End Occupational Therapy is well versed in treating workplace injuries and will administer the care you need to get back to full strength. For more information regarding how we can treat your injuries, be sure to contact us today and schedule an appointment.