A back injury can linger as these muscles and tendons often require lengthy healing times.
SafeStart explains that many back injuries in the workplace stem from not observing safety protocols, but there are many reasons why this happens.
Desensitization
If you spend a large part of your workday lifting heavy items, you may not take the time to make sure you do it safely. It becomes a routine that allows for bad habits to form, which may not cause an immediate injury but can lead to repetitive stress on your back.
Tight schedules
When you have deadlines or quotas to meet, you may rush through your work and ignore safety guidelines meant to prevent injuries. An inflexible schedule may also mean you have to work longer hours, which fatigues the body and makes it more susceptible to injury.
Wrong technique
It is essential that you learn how to properly lift heavy items to avoid back strain. The right technique involves holding items close to the body, using the legs to lift instead of the back and tightening the stomach muscles when returning to a standing position. You also need to know how much you can safely lift and if you should use any type of safety gear or equipment to make back injuries less likely.
Employer’s role
One way to prevent back injuries is for your employer to make sure to provide you with safety equipment and training to learn more about back health in your work environment. You should also have signage in your workplace reminding you of proper techniques and alerting you to common dangers.