Most of the US workforce gets up and goes to work without the thought that they may be injured on the job.
While some workers are well aware of the inherent risk involved in their jobs — construction workers, public servants, and heavy machinery operators — many jobs have measures in place to help reduce on-the-job or workplace injuries.
Many workplace injuries are preventable, but there are a large number of injuries that do and will still occur, regardless of the prevention methods in place.
Join us in today’s post as we discuss some of the most common preventable workplace injuries that we can help treat and how you can prevent them.
10 Most Common Workplace Injuries
- Overexertion Injuries
- Slipping or Tripping
- Falling From Heights
- Reaction Injuries
- Falling Object Injuries
- Walking Into Objects
- Vehicle or Mechanical Equipment Injuries
- Machine Entanglement
- Repetitive Motion or Stress Injuries
- Workplace Violence
Other injuries that didn’t quite make the list, but should not be discluded are loud noise exposure, toxic fume inhalation, and exposure to hazardous or biohazardous materials.
Overexertion Injuries
Overexertion injuries are most commonly thought of as something that athletes or those who lift heavy objects sustain. While this is also true, overexertion injuries can happen in a variety of settings, to include desk jobs!
Millions of emergency department visits and worker’s compensation claims each year are a result of overexertion injuries. Overexertion injuries can happen as a result of repetitive motion, working in an awkward position, or moving heavy objects — lifting, lowering, pulling, pushing, or twisting.
To avoid overexertion injuries, you can practice good posture and lifting techniques. Make your workspace as ergonomic as possible and take frequent breaks from physically demanding activities to stretch.
If you do have to move heavy objects, keep the weight close to your body, avoid jerking motions, and reduce the distance you have to move the items.
If you do experience pain, or you are at risk for injury related to one of the situations we mentioned can cause overexertion injuries, take proactive steps that include stretching, regular exercise, and visits to your local chiropractor.
Reaction Injuries
Reaction injuries are those that are a direct result of something that has happened without impact. For instance, slipping on a wet floor without falling may result in lower back pain or a knee injury, even though there was no impact with the floor.
Skin or breathing problems related to exposure to chemicals, fumes, or allergens are also considered reaction injuries, as are emotional distress including anxiety and PTSD.
Reaction injuries are the toughest to prevent, but being aware of your surroundings and avoiding exposure to unsafe pollutants is a good start. If you have been injured, it is important to fill out worker’s compensation forms and be evaluated right away to prevent worsening or aggravating the injury.
Stay tuned for part two of this two-part series where we will discuss a few more of the common workplace injuries and how to prevent them.