Even if you sit behind a desk for 10 hours a day, lifting nothing heavier than a stapler, you can still injure yourself at work
Here are some less obvious dangers to watch out for, courtesy of the Canadian information website Canoe.ca
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Repetitive strain--You're at risk for repetitive strain injuries if you use the same joints and muscle groups too often, too fast, or for a long period of time. For example, using a computer mouse all day can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Make sure to take regular breaks from anything repetitive and to stretch your muscles in different ways.
Temperature is another issue. You know things that are too hot can cause burns. But cold can also be a problem. If you handle cold materials, they can make your hands numb. And when that happens, you're likely to apply more force than you normally would, which can cause an injury. Also, your body becomes less flexible when you work in a cold environment, which also increases your risk of injury.
Another way you can hurt yourself at work: Lifting. Lifting heavy objects - or not-so-heavy objects if they're lifted constantly - can cause muscle fatigue and strain.
And not just in the arms! You have to really pay attention to your back. You've heard it before: lift from the legs, and keep your back as straight as possible. Even if you're just lifting a couple packages of copier paper. And when you're not sure how much something weighs, use a cart. Don't be a show-off.
And one last way you can get hurt on the job: Vibration. If you drive a bus or a truck, or use power tools, you're at risk for vibration-related injuries such as loss of feeling in your hands and arms--So, give yourself a break every so often and try using padded materials, such as seat cushions or padded gloves, to reduce the vibration.
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Repetitive strain--You're at risk for repetitive strain injuries if you use the same joints and muscle groups too often, too fast, or for a long period of time. For example, using a computer mouse all day can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Make sure to take regular breaks from anything repetitive and to stretch your muscles in different ways.
Temperature is another issue. You know things that are too hot can cause burns. But cold can also be a problem. If you handle cold materials, they can make your hands numb. And when that happens, you're likely to apply more force than you normally would, which can cause an injury. Also, your body becomes less flexible when you work in a cold environment, which also increases your risk of injury.
Another way you can hurt yourself at work: Lifting. Lifting heavy objects - or not-so-heavy objects if they're lifted constantly - can cause muscle fatigue and strain.
And not just in the arms! You have to really pay attention to your back. You've heard it before: lift from the legs, and keep your back as straight as possible. Even if you're just lifting a couple packages of copier paper. And when you're not sure how much something weighs, use a cart. Don't be a show-off.
And one last way you can get hurt on the job: Vibration. If you drive a bus or a truck, or use power tools, you're at risk for vibration-related injuries such as loss of feeling in your hands and arms--So, give yourself a break every so often and try using padded materials, such as seat cushions or padded gloves, to reduce the vibration.
