Serving Columbus GA, Phenix City, Auburn, and the surrounding communities.
Whether at home or at the job, everyone occasionally needs to bend themselves a little out of shape to get the job done. Being aware of the risk of injury and proactively making adjustments to minimize those risks can save you a lot of physical problems down the road.
Simply put—Ergonomics is the study of designing procedures and equipment to prevent workers from unnecessary injuries. As employees, your goal should not be to just get the job done, but to get it done as safely as possible. As an employer, it is our responsibility to ensure that you are aware of hazards and provided with tools and training to prevent injury.
The purpose of this safety training will focus on the most common behaviors that may place you at risk and provide tips to eliminate, or at the least greatly reduce the chances of becoming injured on the job.
Ergonomic based injuries are commonly caused by regularly using awkward postures or movements to complete common job tasks. The more often you put your body in these awkward positions, the greater your risk becomes.
Some common practices include:
· Reaching overhead for items instead of standing and grabbing it at an even level or using a stepladder
· Remaining in awkward positions for extended periods of time—bending or twisting.
· Lifting heavy objects in unusual positions without proper lifting aids and/or controls, such as:
o Using excessive force, like pushing, pulling, or manually pouring materials that are meant to be operated with tools
o Using your back instead of your legs when moving objects
o Not asking for help when it is clear that the job would be completed safer with the assistance one or two extra people instead of a single individual.
Using your body parts as tools. Have you ever found yourself using your hand or foot to kick or pound an object, like a shoe in place of a hammer to pound in a nail.
If you regularly do any of these, the good news is that at-risk behaviors can be reversed with proper training and more importantly PRACTICE of these simple procedures:
· Keep your body in as natural of a position as possible at all times. If you are unable to get your tool where you need it, try finding another access point or adjust your body to make it work without overly twisting or torqueing your body parts.
· Use lifting aids whenever possible, especially when engaged in tasks such as lifting repetitively or lifting heavy objects
· Using proper procedures for lifting – Lift with your legs, keep you back straight, do not overload yourself.
· If you need to reach something that it above your shoulders use a stepstool or ladder.
· Keep yourself in top shape by stretching and exercising regularly.
Keep in mind that this list of risks or the list of solutions are all encompassing. Every person’s body is different and there is no ‘one right way’ to avoid bodily injuries. Pay attention to your body and let management know if you need any specialized tools or accommodation to help you prevent long term damage.