What are the leading causes of work related injury? And how can work injuries be prevented?
Obviously, some jobs bring a higher risk for injury than others (such as construction versus office work) but no jobs are completely safe. And factors like how long you’ve been on the job (experience at a task), the intensity of the work schedule and even employee age can also play a role in the likelihood of someone becoming injured at work.
But rushed, careless, over confident or distracted behavior, over-confidence, improper training or simply making poor choices are by far the greatest contributor to workplace injuries. “Unsafe actions are responsible for 4 times as many injuries as unsafe work conditions.“
According to insurance companies, the 10 most common causes of worker’s compensation claims fall into the following work injury categories:
- Overexertion that results from moving or lifting objects. (Overexertion alone accounts for 1/3 of all work injuries.)
- Slipping and tripping on wet floors or over cords and other objects.
- Falling off ladders, on stairways or from other heights.
- Reacting to stop or break a fall.
- Being struck by falling objects.
- Walking into objects like glass doors, walls, equipment, etc.
- Auto accidents.
- Machinery or heavy equipment-related injuries.
- Repetitive motion injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be what comes to mind first but repetitive motion injuries can also include shoulder and neck pain, arm and wrist pain and vision problems – often resulting from poor training, bad habits and workstations that don’t consider proper ergonomic principles.
- Assault from other workers as a result of arguments or other undesirable behavior.
Work-related back pain
Many of the most common, painful and slow to recover work-related injuries involve the back. And they can be experienced as a sharp, sudden (acute) pain or a less dramatic (but equally debilitating) pain that continues for weeks or even years (chronic).
Some of the most common work-related back-related injuries include:
- Back muscle, tendon and ligament strains
- Bulging, slipped or herniated discs
- Pinched nerves
- Fractured vertebra
- Damage to the spinal cord
What to do if you experience back pain or believe you may have injured your back
In many cases, seeking quick, professional medical assistance is critical to prevent further damage since continued activity can often make an injury even worse. In worst case scenarios, spinal cord injury, for example, has the potential to cause permanent paralysis or even death.
And, with all the recent publicity about the opioid epidemic, painkiller medicines are obviously a less-than-desirable solution.
In Omaha, Dr. Jeffrey Meyers D.C. at Back2Health chiropractic clinic has been a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic since 1996 and is a member in good standing of the American Chiropractic Association. He is Omaha’s only health care professional specially trained to treat patients who have been injured in low-speed rear-impact collisions and has advanced training in whiplash injuries.
To schedule an appointment for a back-related work injury, sports injury or other health condition, contact Back2Health chiropractic clinic today.