Reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders
Accidents happen in the workforce but most people don’t know that most of these accidents are preventable through good practices and teaching with employees.
Many workers suffer from muscle and nerve pain that are in result of lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy loads, working in awkward body postures and performing repetitive tasks. Doctors call these aches and pains Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and what most people don’t know is that work-related MSDs can be preventable with these simple tips.
1. Provide Management Support
The clear communication with the management to the employees about setting goals and objectives to keep ergonomics at the for-front of their daily duties is critical to the overall success of the ergonomic process. Allow yourself to be open to change and in the office place for the safety of your workers.
2. Involve the Team Member
Keep your employees engaged and ask them to identify and discuss areas in their everyday work life where ergonomics could be used. Especially since they’re doing the work every day, they might see the most areas that need improvement.
3. Provide Training
Training is the most important element in the ergonomics process and it assures the importance and understanding of safety in the workplace. This is a great leadership opportunity as well. Assigning someone to this task to allow for better processes can increase morale.
4. Encourage Early Reporting of MSDs
Early reporting can accelerate the job assessment process and make sure workers are placed in the correct job. Early reporting also allows for the reduction of symptoms associated with MSDs.
5. Evaluate Progress of Safety Processes
This procedure is validating that the ergonomic solutions that were placed in the beginning of the process, are successful and helping your employee. By evaluating the safety processes, you’re also showing concern for your greatest asset: your worker. This could also be assigned to the team member who was given the training responsibility.
Hopefully this was helpful as you start planning for workplace safety with the use of ergonomics. Preventing MSDs will help keep your staff safe in and out of the office.
By: Paul Roxas
