Get on the Ball and Stay on the Job

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Want a quick and easy tip that can help your employees stay flexible and injury free? There are many exercises that can be done during breaks at work that will complete a routine daily workout – and a number of them can be done with this simple tool called an exercise ball (aka: swiss ball).

Employees can do activities such as sit ups, pushups, or placing the ball on the wall, in the small of their backs, and doing rolling squats! There are countless ways to get a full workout in just a few extra minutes throughout the day. These few extra minutes taken by the active employee, instead of getting up an extra hour before work or trying to squeeze the gym in after work, can bring about a reduced stress level and reduced potential for injury. Plus those precious extra minutes are valuable to an employee, and that could mean a happier worker. And we all know a happier worker means a more productive worker. And the long term benefit of having healthy imployees is increased productivity, and more time at the job – so it’s a win/win.

Here’s to getting on the ball and promoting the health of all your employees!

Get on the Ball

Source: Gaiam.com

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Conquering Back Pain with Physical Activity

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

More than 80 percent of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives. In the past, it was commonly believed that rest was important for recovery from back pain. However, that is just not the case. Resting through a back injury can prolong your recovery. The longer you rest, the harder it becomes to resume your regular activities.The good news is that most back pain resolves if you treat it by being active. Staying active, as well as practicing good mechanics such as proper posture and lifting techniques, speeds up the recovery process and decreases the risk of chronic disability.Inactivity can prolong pain. When we are inactive, we become stiff, and our muscles and bones weaken. We can become depressed, and the pain can feel worse.

The earlier you get active, the sooner you’ll be able to resume your regular activities.

Pain_Diagram.jpg
Source: Healthy Alberta

Being active is key to recovering from back pain. Understanding your pain and the benefits of staying active will help to ease your fears of causing further harm and will enable you to take an active role in recovery and prevention. Finding activities you enjoy will help you to recover quickly and to prevent future flare-ups.

When you allow your employees to stay at home and not remain active, it increases their time away from work. Our Health and Wellness Rooms address these issues in a positive and encouraging environment. With trained medical staff in each room, your employee will be encouraged within their restrictions to remain productive. This helps the employee maintain good mental health. Contact Proof:Positive and let us help you keep your injured employees active while enhancing their sense of confidence and well-being.

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Avoid On the Job Injuries From Musculoskeletal Disorders

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) is a term used to describe injuries to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, peripheral nerves, structures, bones or associated vascular system of the body. These injuries may occur to any part of the body (hands, arms back, etc.). Several risk factors have been associated with the development of MSD’s. The presence of risk factors in work activities are common and do not necessarily indicate a concern, but the question is how much and for how long.

Akward Postures: The position of the body during work, e.g., bending, reaching, twisting, standing. The body is strongest when the joints are in their neutral posture. Deviations from this posture will greatly affect the body’s available strength.

Forceful Motions: The force acting on the body during work, e.g., pushing, pulling, lifting, torque reaction, weight. The external force can translate to a much larger internal force in the body (e.g. a 40 lb. load in the hands can produce a load of over 800 lbs on the spine).

Repetitive Motion: The number of times a joint is moved and overall duration of a task, e.g., number of pinch grips per minute, number of lifts.

Contact Stress: The physical contact between the body and the work surface. Contact stress can result in restrictions of blood circulation and increases in tendon friction.

Environment: This includes lighting, glare, noise levels, temperature, vibration and humidity. The environmental effects can dramatically increase the physical effort required to do a job.

Personal Risk Factors: People are different and respond differently to the presence of ergonomic risks.

Controlling Personal Risk Factors: Balance stress on joints by exercising opposing muscles off the job. Stretch muscles before using them to prevent injuries. Don’t ignore pain. Choose safe exercises. Always check with health care provider before starting new exercise programs.

To reduce the potential for on-the-job-injuries for your employees, it is important that the principals defined are considered throughout their daily activities.

If you are interested in finding out more about Proof:Positive Consulting and the services we provide, please contact us.

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Back Safety – On or Off the Job!

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

It is estimated that 8 out of 10 Americans will have a back problem at some time in their lives. And no wonder – we have a knack for neglecting our backs! You might be a weekend athlete who might strain an underused muscle, someone with bad posture, and someone who lifts incorrectly or who is overweight, under stress, or out of shape and are setting the stage for a back injury.

Then there is the average American worker who sometimes is required to do manual labor at their jobsite. It is a good practice for employers to help educate these employees on proper lifting and safety awareness. Most people are active outside of work. An injury off the job or on the job is still an injury, and impacts productivity. So it is important to try and educate your employees on not only work back safety but back safety all the time. As an employer, showing concern for your employees on or off the job can only benefit you. Help yourselves avoid workers compensation claims, retraining, overtime paid to cover shifts missed due to injury, and help boost employee morale.

Safety should be taught to avoid accidents not in response to one. Proof:Positive can help your company evaluate your safety programs and help design a program to fit your company needs. Your employees can not only learn about injury rehabilitation but also learn on how to care for themselves outside of work as well.

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Lifting and Carrying: Your Guide to a Healthy Back

Author in the Prevent Future Claims category

Know the Facts

Back injuries affect millions of Americans, and can require medical attention.  Back injuries are a leading cause of job-related injuries.  They disable more than 400,000 people each year. It costs Americans nearly $75 billion annually for medical treatment, lost wages, and insurance claims. Back injuries can significantly limit a person’s physical activity. It is also the second leading cause of missed work days and lost wages.

Using good body mechanics to lift

  • Wear supportive shoes with traction
  • Bend and gently stretch to get ready
  • Test the load to see if you can handle it safely – if not get help from a co-worker or use mechanical aids
  • Keep a wide stance and solid footing
  • To improve balance, keep your heels down and turn feet slightly out
  • Tighten your stomach muscles
  • Do not hold your breath – exhale with the greatest exertion
  • Get a good grasp on the load
  • Keep the load close to your body to reduce strain
  • Keep your head up and trunk tall to maintain your natural curves
  • Lift steadily with your legs, not your back
  • Point feet in the direction of the move, don’t twist
  • Set the load down by squatting down and keeping the spine aligned More…
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