When you have a physical job, the probability of experiencing an injury on the job rises. Broken bones, back injuries, head injuries and more are devastating and can put your life on hold causing you to miss weeks or months of important events. Fortunately, there are ways you can prepare your body and equip yourself to reduce your risk of injury. Most of the preventative techniques we discuss here can easily be incorporated into your daily routine.
Always Warm-Up
As soon as it’s time to get to work for the day, you should warm-up your body before doing anything else. Properly warming up your muscles prepares them for strenuous activity and makes injury less likely. Effective warm-up techniques include:
Stretching
Taking a short walk
Practice expected tasks
If you know you are going to lift heavy objects throughout the day a great way to warm-up your body is to lift the smallest boxes first. By easing into a strenuous activity you slowly increase the capacity your body has to perform difficult tasks.
Know When To Rest
Working while tired is a top cause of workplace injuries that can result in serious injuries or even death. If you work more than four hours per day, you are entitled to paid breaks. When you are on break it is important to:
Eat a small snack
Drink plenty of fluids
Rest your muscles
Treat any ailments
When you take proper rest, you not only improve your physical state but your mental state as well.
Understand Your Own Strength
Some physical jobs require you to be able to lift 50lbs. or more on a daily basis. Although lifting heavy objects or performing intense physical labor might be a job requirement, it is still imperative to know your own strength. For example, if you are fatigued, it is important to ask for help on difficult tasks or use tools that make completing the task easier. When you understand your own strength or lack thereof, you are able to work longer and more effectively without the risk of injury.
Use The Proper Equipment
Most workplaces are equipped with tools to help you complete physical tasks. Devices such as forklifts, pallet jacks, carts, dollys and more can all reduce the amount of physical force it takes to move a heavy object. The majority of workplace equipment requires training to operate but once you know how to use it safely, it can save your body from pain in the future.
Knowledgeable Attorneys For Your Worker’s Compensation Claim
If you have suffered from a workplace injury, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of your missed work, medical bills, and any permanent impairment. In New Hampshire, Patch & FitzGerald are your top choice for worker’s compensation claim representation. To schedule a free consultation call 603-647-2600 or contact us online today.