If you’ve been injured at work, you know how much of a traumatic event the whole process can be. Workplace injuries are very common occurrences, especially in certain occupations that are inherently risky, such as construction. That being said, workplace injuries can occur in any setting, even in office buildings. In this article, we will review some of the best tips for avoiding workplace injuries.
Keep Your Body Strong
While there are potentially some rare exceptions, stronger people will often have a lower chance of being seriously injured.
Think about it, if your muscles, bones, joints, and other bodily structures are strong, it would take a huge amount of force to break or damage them.
In order to strengthen your body, you’ll want to focus on good lifestyle habits. These include avoiding smoking and drinking, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting enough exercise. By accomplishing just these few small tasks, you’ll put yourself in a good position to avoid injuries and to recover whenever you do sustain one.
Follow the Rules
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has outlined various recommendations for workers and employers. These guidelines provide actionable steps that all workers and managers must adhere to, or else they may face fines, termination, or other penalties. Not to mention, by disobeying safety rules, workers are more likely to get injured.
Some workplace rules will require workers to take breaks every so often. This is one of the best ways to avoid injury, as it allows the worker time to rest and recover before returning to their tasks.
If You Don’t Know Something, Ask
When you’re new to a job, you always want to make a great impression on your coworkers and managers. However, you should never risk your safety if you aren’t sure how to do something.
Always ask your supervisor or a coworker for clarification before moving forward with a task. In most cases, doing the task wrong will create double the work for you and your team. In rare cases, doing something wrong can lead to serious injury or even death.
Use Proper Footwear
If you badly injure your foot at work, you may be unable to return to the job for many weeks or even months. Therefore, proper footwear is essential. Your shoes should protect your feet and should be appropriate for your place of work.
Your workplace may require certain footwear. However, even if they don’t, be sure to protect yourself by wearing close-toed shoes or whatever type of shoe is ideal for your work.
Speak Up If You’ve Been Injured
Sometimes, a minor injury can become a major one, if it isn’t addressed promptly. If you’ve been noticing a twinge in your back due to your new job, be sure to speak up and tell your supervisor before this becomes a bigger problem.
Practice Good Posture
Whether you’re standing, walking, or mostly sitting throughout your work day, you need to be sure to practice good posture. The ideal posture for your job will vary based on the type of work you perform, but you should be sure that you determine the best ergonomics for the task at hand.
See Your Chiropractor Regularly
As part of a generally healthy lifestyle, you should ensure that you see a chiropractor on a regular basis. By performing spinal manipulations, your chiropractor will help you maintain alignment and have the best chance to avoid injuries related to lifting or moving throughout the day.
If you’ve been injured at work or want to avoid a workplace injury, come see your friendly Lithia, FL chiropractors at At Last Chiropractic. Book your appointment now!
