Many people end up suffering from back pain after injuring themselves at work, but often these injuries can be prevented. Even relatively safe working environments like an office can pose dangers to employees, and an injury can be debilitating.
The best way to stay safe at work and protect your back is to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. Here are a few steps that you can take to keep your spine safe.
Take Care when Lifting
Many back accidents occur when people are lifting heavy items, or lifting even light items incorrectly. As a result, you should take special care whenever you lift anything at work, and always use the correct technique.
Always use your legs to lift rather than your back, which means squatting down low to pick something up rather than bending over. Lifting and twisting is especially dangerous, so always stay straight.
Most importantly, never lift anything that you are uncomfortable with, either because of its weight or its shape.
Sit Properly
Sitting in a bad posture for long periods of time can also cause back problems. Make sure you sit in the correct posture in a chair that supports your lower back, and always stand up and move around regularly.
Exercise to Strengthen Your Back
Regular exercise is a good preventative measure because it can help to strengthen your back muscles and reduce the chance of injury. Even something as simple as walking regularly can help, and something like swimming is particularly good.
Be Careful of RMDs
RMDs are Repetitive Motion Disorders, and they cause damage over a longer period of time. If you are consistently sitting or lifting badly, you may not feel any pain until long-term damage has occurred. So it is very important to be aware of any actions that you carry out on a regular basis, and to take appropriate breaks, maintain correct posture, and ensure you are using the right technique.
What to Do if You Suffer a Back Injury At Work
If you suffer an injury to your back, the first thing to do is seek medical attention. You may need nothing more than a few days of rest, but if the injury is more serious, you may require more extensive treatment.
You may also want to find out about legal action you can take. Your employer has a duty to ensure all employees are safe at work, and you may want to claim compensation. If so, always arrange a consultation with a lawyer specializing in this area, such as Marks & Harrison Disability Lawyers, as soon as possible.
Look After Your Back at Work
A back injury at work could mean you have to take time off work, and back injuries can sometimes take a long time to get better. Avoid problems in the first place by taking these preventative measures. That way you can keep your back in good shape and avoid all the problems that can occur when you injure your back at work.
Maddison Hope is a nurse. Working long hours during the week she enjoys unwinding from the stresses of the job by typing out her thoughts which she turns into articles. She writes on a range of health related topics.