When you work in the storage and ergonomic equipment field, you’re bound to be exposed to some common ergonomic hazards if you don’t take responsibility for your safety. For instance, the best way to avoid injury is by wearing the appropriate protective equipment.
Other ergonomic prevention methods include practicing proper posture when sitting or standing at a desk, being mindful of how far away from a computer monitor your eyes, and never carrying heavy loads on one side of the body for long periods. This article lists common ergonomic hazards and ways to avoid them.
Improper Tool Selection
The wrong tool may use excessive force because it isn’t designed for the intended task or doesn’t have the proper features. For example, using a hammer to drive in nails or screwing can achieve high-stress levels. To avoid this type of hazard, ensure that your workers choose the right tool for the job instead of simply using a tool they like or are used to.
Further, if you are using pallet racks in your warehouse you should know that they are designed to withhold the strain and weight of your heaviest loads. If you are having issues with the racks you can look for an expert to undertake a pallet rack inspection in Philadelphia to avoid any associated hazards.
Repetitive Motion
If you have been moving boxes around all day, you are more likely to be injured than if you were working on one project from start to finish. When workers make the same motions repeatedly throughout the day, their risk for injury increases dramatically. For example, continually pulling on some heavy boxes can lead to injuries like those caused by carrying something too heavy for too long, such as lower back and shoulder pain.
To avoid this type of hazard, ensure that your workers move boxes or other heavy items around for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
Prolonged Periods Of Sitting
If you sit for prolonged periods without any breaks, you may be in danger. With prolonged periods of sitting, the blood can pool in the legs. That can increase the risk of developing varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.
To avoid this type of hazard, ensure that your workers take regular breaks throughout the day and encourage them to drink plenty of water to keep their blood circulating efficiently throughout their bodies.
Chemical Exposure
Avoiding tasks leading to increased chemical exposure is vital for preventing injuries. When making changes to a product, workers spend the amount of time working with chemical products increases dramatically. For instance, if you are working on a machine or equipment, you may need to make adjustments, clean, or repair it. If you do this maintenance work without taking the proper precautions and wearing appropriate protective gear and clothing, your risk of injury dramatically increases.
To avoid this type of hazard, ensure that your workers are properly protected at all times and have access to an ergonomic workstation in Philadelphia while they are doing any work involving chemicals or other dangerous materials.
Poor Lighting
You may not see it, but poor lighting on the job can also lead to major injuries. If the lights in your workplace are too bright, you could be more likely to experience headaches or eye fatigue. On the other hand, if the lights are not bright enough, you could have difficulty seeing properly, which can also lead to injuries.
To avoid this type of hazard, ensure that your workers have adequate lighting throughout their workplace to avoid straining their eyes when doing their work.
Seek Help From The Experts
It is always vital that you try to avoid these ergonomic hazards. Ensuring you have properly designed equipment suitable for your working environment and job helps lead to a safer and more comfortable workplace. Remember to tell your manager about potential problems with the equipment or work spaces provided. Further, our experts at Storage & Ergonomics help organizations identify, analyze and control ergonomic hazards in their organizations and lower the risk that these ergonomic hazards pose.
By proactively addressing ergonomic hazards in your organization, workers can be more productive, and you will have a healthier environment to work in. If you want to know more regarding our services you can contact us today.
