Prevention of Back And Neck Injuries Should Be a Priority

On Behalf of | Sep 8, 2017 | Workers' Compensation |

Back and neck pain can cause individuals more than just pain and fatigue, they can also lead to missing days or weeks of work. A person that is injured during the coursing of their job duties is often entitled to coverage for their medical bills under worker’s compensation coverage. Individuals working within a warehouse, manufacturing facility, or other industrial environment can find themselves doing a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling of inventory and products. Employers should be providing adequate fall protection and lift gear to their workers, in order to keep them safe and guarded from potential harm. Meshbesher Law Firm is based out of Minneapolis and specializes in helping people who have been injured while on the job.

Industrial Injuries

Jobs within the industrial field can vary between engineers, bricklayers, drivers, general labor workers, plant production workers, welders, and more. These types of jobs are typically demanding in a physical nature, do to the repetitive lifting and physical nature involved with these occupational duties.

According to an article by Brandon J. Luskin, MD that was published by Spine Universe, “Industrial work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a primary cause of lost work days, productivity, and revenue.”

Industrial workers often work with heavy materials. Safety training and first aid should be taught by employers if moving and lifting heavy objects is within a person’s regular job description. Supports straps and back belts should always be available to workers if they have to lift something that is large, awkward, and/or heavy. Plant workers, utility employees, and warehouse staff should also be educated on operating fork lifts, bucket trucks, and motorized lift stations if they are working with items that are too heavy for people to pick up on their own. A person should never feel required to put themselves in danger in order to lift something to an unsafe height.

Safety and Training

Proper stretching and an awareness of how to handle certain workplace situations can go a long way in preventing back and neck injuries. Employees should always be encourage to seek help when they encounter a job that is too big, or they fear they could hurt themselves while doing it. Upper management has a responsibility to put the proper safety guards and educational training in place in order to protect their staff. Educational seminars should be done on a routine bases, so employees have the most up to date information regarding how to bend and lift properly.

“Workplace safety training seminars and back safety training are great tools to educate employees about proper back care on the job,” stated Jeff Derango in an OSHA workplace safety blog article.

An employer may be at fault for a worker’s injured back or neck if no safety standards are in place.

Slips, Trips, Falls

Products or merchandise that must be moved or lifted by employees should always be properly packaged. A company’s warehouse or headquarters should also be clean and the floors clear of any obstructions because slips, trips, and falls could also result in neck and back injuries.

Staircases and steps with three or more risers should always have adequate railings in place. Elevated platforms should have guard rails, and all steps need to have non-skid surface material for safer walking conditions. If there are cracks or holes in the flooring of a company’s building, than those floor areas should be fixed immediately and marked with highly reflective tape in the meantime. It is not the employees fault if they fall due to a slip, trip, or fall hazard on the ground due to an employer’s negligence.

Have you injured your back or neck on the job? Contact us for assistance.

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