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Injured at Work-What you can do to avoid becoming a statistic

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Injured at Work

What You Can Do To Avoid Becoming a Statistic

By Theresa Hengstenberger, RN, Medina County Health Department Occupational Health Nurse

Workplace injuries, whether they occur suddenly or over time as a result of repetitive stress, are a major occupational concern for both staff and management. Workplace injuries can happen anywhere: offices, construction sites, hospitals, factories, or farms. Each year, according to the United States Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), more than four million Americans suffer nonfatal injuries at work and more than 5,700 die from workplace injuries.

Muscle strains are the most common workplace injury. Muscle strains can occur when employee’s physical movements during work activities change. For example, a simple change from moving right instead of left during a task could cause a muscle strain. “Just as athletes must condition themselves to physical activities, workers must also gradually condition themselves to the tasks of their jobs,” says William W. Greaves, MD, MSPH, Director and Associate Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin Division of Public Health.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common throughout various work environments. These disorders include conditions that involve nerves, tendons, muscles, bones, and supporting structures, such as spinal discs. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), repetitive, forceful, or prolonged exertions of the hands; frequent or heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying of heavy objects; prolonged awkward postures; and vibration may contribute to work-related MSDs.

NIOSH conducts research and provides various publications, including Elements of Ergonomics Programs, for employers and the public. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 1994 about one-third of cases involving days away from work were the result of overexertion or repetitive motion.

General Principles

OSHA, the federal agency responsible for setting workplace safety and health regulations, notes four basic elements found in workplaces with good accident prevention programs:

The manager or management team leads the way by setting policy, assigning and supporting responsibility, setting good examples, and involving employees.
The worksite is continually analyzed to identify all hazards and potential hazards.
Methods for preventing or controlling existing or potential hazards are put in place and maintained.
Managers, supervisors, and employees are trained to understand and deal with worksite hazards.

Know What You’re Working With

Before using any vehicle or equipment at work, make sure that it is in proper working order and you know how to operate it before using it. Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing near power equipment – it can get caught in moving parts.

Know what you’re working with and wear the recommended personal protective equipment for the task you are about to perform, such as gloves, goggles, or earplugs. Whenever you see a potentially hazardous situation, report or correct it before someone is injured.

Other suggestions:

Always follow proper procedures and safety policies.
Ask for help in advance if you have questions.
Read any available safety information, including Material Safety Data Sheets, when handling hazardous materials.
If your company employs health care providers (e.g., nurses or safety officers), get to know them and the resources they have available.
Being aware and using available information will decrease your risks for injury or excessive exposure to hazardous materials.

Sufficient sleep, regular exercise, maintaining your recommended weight, keeping a healthy diet, and wearing seatbelts will all help to keep you safe and healthy. Good public health principles are good workplace principles as well.

Work offers important social, financial, and emotional benefits, but a serious workplace injury can take it all away. By understanding the hazards related to your profession, asking for assistance when needed, and staying alert and fit, you can keep from becoming a workplace injury statistic.

The Medina County Health Department has protected the health of Medina County citizens since 1918. Services are partially funded by your local property tax health levy. For more information about an occupational health consultation or our other services, call us at 330-723-9688, toll-free at 1-888-723-9688, or visit us at www.medinahealth.org