Axcess Industries understands that improper body positioning injuries are very common in the workplace. The most common causes of body positioning injuries are awkward positions of the spine, bending over, working o one’s knees, and working overhead. These injuries seldom result from a single traumatic incident. Instead they develop over time because of frequently placing the body or its extremities in unusual positions for extended periods of time.
SafetyEd wants you to know that awkward positions of the spine can often be avoided by placement of staging or work platforms to eliminate or reduce the amount of reaching, twisting, or bending required to access the work. Positioning of mobile work platforms, such as scissors lifts, is also important in reducing or eliminating the need for workers to assume awkward postures.
Working while bending over sometimes cannot be avoided. This posture compresses the spinal column and places strain on the lower back, which can lead to chronic back pain or more significant back injury over time. Repositioning oneself may allow the lower back muscles to recover and reduce the risk of injury. The contact stress that results from working in the knees is also a frequent cause of injury. This problem is even more sever when kneeling on cold surfaces for extended periods. Wearing knee pads and occasional stretching will help provide relief.
Performing hot work overhead places strain on the muscles of the neck and shoulders and compresses the vertebrae in the neck. Muscles of the shoulders and arms as well as those of the neck which support the weight of the head, tend to tire very quickly when performing overhead work. So, take SafetyEd’s advice and always take frequent, short breaks to allow for muscle recovery that may prevent injury.