A back injury is nothing to make light of. This type of injury can derail someone’s life, especially when it happens in the workplace. That’s why it’s important to take steps to avoid back injuries in the workplace. Here are some tips that will help to avoid back injuries:
- Always use correct techniques for bending, lifting, and moving loads
- Exercising can help strengthen back and abdominal muscles, which will help support the back
- Always wear comfortable, supportive, and nonslip shoes
- Proper posture helps ease strain on the back
- Losing weight helps put less strain on the back, so if you’re over weight, try losing some pounds to give your back a break
All employers in the United States adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for proper techniques to be used for specific jobs. Following these techniques helps reduce back injuries.
If lifting is a part of the job, here is important information to keep your back healthy even while lifting heavy objects.
- Make sure there is enough room to lift the item. That means test its weight and make sure you’re able to do the lifting safely.
- Get help for something that is too heavy or awkwardly shaped. Use a dolly to move heavy objects or split the load into multiple smaller loads if possible.
- Keep loads close to the body when lifting to reduce strain.
- Your feet should be shoulder-width apart to form a solid base of support
- Grip what you’re lifting tightly
- Always bend at the knees, not the waist
- Do not rely on a back belt to provide necessary support for proper lifting; back belts do offer support, but shouldn’t be used as the only method of support
- Take breaks when lifting multiple items
- Avoiding twisting as you lift.
- Use gloves when necessary for lifting to help with traction and protection
The Frequency of Back Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control, back injuries account for 20% of all injuries and illnesses in the workplace. These injuries cost 20 to 50 billion dollars each year. The most effective way to prevent back injuries is to implement an ergonomics program that helps redesign the work environment and work tasks to reduce any hazards associated with lifting, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
There are many products that can help prevent back injuries in all types of industries. Whether an employee is working on a loading dock or in an office, ergonomic products help maintain proper positioning at all times so that the body stays in alignment.
What Injuries Mean for Businesses
It’s important for businesses to keep abreast of the injuries that can and do occur in the workplace. Keeping accurate data of these cases is necessary so that all information is compiled and company heads are able to stay focused on the big data bottom line.
This information can include everything from the number of injuries and incidents to customer satisfaction. Most of all, it helps everyone from employers to employees to stay safe and keep the flow of work steady.
photo credit: Nicholas_T via photopin cc
Dana Rasmussen writes about workplace safety tips and how to prevent injuries. She’s a big fan of ergonomically correct computer accessories.
When you reach adulthood, you would notice that you are already on the stage where your weight problem is one of the main issues that you need to face. If you want to make sure that you will still have that perfect body condition when you reach your old age, you have to make sure that you are doing the right thing in order for you to achieve the normal weight for your body.With the goal to lose excessive weight, you have to make sure that you are performing the right exercise and fat burning workouts. There are those that are proven effective and safe for everyone. You just have to stick with that and you will surely get a positive result when you do it regularly. Here are some of the safe and effective workout exercise programs that can help you lose weight:
· Brisk walking and dumbbell exercise. If you are looking for the most effective way to lose weight, you can try brisk walking. This activity is one of those that are highly recommended because it can burn calories in just few minutes. After brisk walking for few minutes, you can do the dumbbell exercise where you can just hold a pair of dumbbells and lift your two hands in synchronized manner. This is going to be very helpful in toning the muscles in the upper part of your body in order to make sure that it is getting equal toning with the lower part as you did your brisk walking. This is a very safe and effective exercise.
· Bicycling and a little stretching. Aside from walking, you can go for an afternoon biking or you can just have that indoor bicycle that can be used by people who do not want to exercise under the sun. Before having your regular dose of biking, you can do a little warm up stretching in order to make sure that the muscles are prepared. Just like walking, you will be losing significant amount of unwanted fats when you go biking and you make it a regular habit. You can do this during afternoons after work.
· The Jump Rope Exercise. According to studies, slow cardio exercises are effective in losing weight. If you find jogging and walking too mainstream for you, the jump rope exercise can be perfect for you. All you need to do in order to make sure that you will become successful in this type of workout program is to do it regularly. There are a lot of people who have been doing this very simple exercise coupled with a little jog. The result of jump rope exercise is one thing that can help you get that lean body.
· Jogging and three sets of dumbbell rise. Here is a thing; dumbbell is a very important tool that can be perfect for people who are looking for the simplest and the safest exercise. When you are still starting, you have to make sure that you are conditioning your body to a more focused exercise workout program. You have this jogging and dumbbell raise workout program when you wake up in the morning. All you need to do is to start with the jogging and a little stretching and do the three sets of dumbbell raise. This is not really hard to do and it can also be very helpful in giving you the energy that you need for the day.
When you are doing the given workout programs above, you have to make sure that you are also eating the right food in order for you to get a positive result.
Author Bio:
Marshal Gatlin is a health & fitness enthusiast. He writes on topics such as the fat burning workouts and cardio workout. Through the All Workout Routines site he strives to help everyone achieve their fitness and weight loss goals and provide access to the information and education they need to do to so.
Note: You might consider wearing a high visibility vest while walking or riding, in order for vehicles to easily spot you. pb
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