Staying Safe at Work

Every job comes with risks. Whether you do manual labor or sit behind a desk, a day on the job is one that can lead to injury. But there are plenty of things you can do to stay safe at work. These tips can help.

Follow These Safety Guidelines:

• Follow all of your workplace safety guidelines
• Wear protective gear as recommended
• Stay out of danger zones.
• When you're unclear on how to do something safely, ask someone. 
• If you don't follow the basic safety guidelines, you put yourself and others at risk. 
• If your job requires lifting, use proper lifting techniques. Bend at your knees, and keep your back straight. Lift with your legs, not your back.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• If you use a computer, make sure your workstation is comfortable for your body. Set up your desk, chair, keyboard and mouse so you can work without strain. If you need things like back support, a foot rest or better lighting, ask for them.
• Don't forget to focus on your health. Eat a nutritious diet, stay active, get enough sleep and make sure you're managing your stress levels. Staying healthy can help you avoid injuries on the job.

Workplace Accidents Q & A

What are workplace accidents?

Workplace accidents are injuries that happen on the job. Anyone can experience a workplace accident, but they’re especially common in physically demanding professions like construction and warehousing.

The most common kind of workplace accident is repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). RSIs happen gradually. They’re characterized by wear-and-tear damage that affects the hard or soft tissues, like your bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

What are the symptoms of a workplace accident?

The symptoms of a workplace accident depend on what part of the body is injured. Telltale signs include:

• Pain that ranges from mild to severe
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Tingling or numbness
• Throbbing
• Weakness

As the injury gets worse, you can also experience sensitivity to cold or heat. The injured part of the body might not be able to bear weight or pressure.

What activities increase the risk of workplace accidents?

The majority of workplace accidents happen because of repetitive movements. If your job requires you to do the same motions over and over again throughout the day, it gradually takes a toll on the muscles and tendons those motions use.

Things that increase your risk of a workplace accident include:

• Lifting heavy objects
• Maintaining an awkward posture
• Being in poor physical condition

Occupations with an increased risk of workplace accidents include dental hygienists, construction workers, bus drivers, cleaners, and cooks.

How are workplace accidents diagnosed?

To diagnose a workplace accident, your University Pain Medicine Center provider does a physical exam. They ask you about your symptoms, including their severity, when they started, and if any of your daily work responsibilities make them worse.

Your provider has you fill out a questionnaire. They then test your strength, flexibility, and range of motion. If these measures don’t provide enough insight into your condition, they might also order an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI. These procedures capture detailed images of the hard and soft tissues that make up your musculoskeletal system.

How are workplace accidents treated?

How a workplace accident is treated will depend on what caused it, how severe your symptoms are, and how the injury is affecting your daily life. Following an exam, your provider might recommend:

• Epidural injections
• Peripheral nerve block
• Sympathetic nerve block
• Myofascial release
• Physical therapy
• Trigger point injections
• Stellate ganglion blocks
• Prolotherapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

Your provider will explain what each of these treatments does and which might most effectively deal with your injury.

To learn more about workplace accidents, make an appointment at University Pain Medicine Center today by calling the nearest office or scheduling online.