A back injury at work is an all-too-common part of life in the United States economy.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the number of reported back injuries at a million per year.
Injuring a back takes a terrible toll on an employee’s quality of life, and the employer pays the price in terms of increased workers’ comp payouts and reduced team morale.
What can be done to reduce back injuries that happen on the job?
The first thing management has to recognize is that this is something that can happen to anyone in any type of job.
It’s true that a warehouse that does a lot of shipping will be vulnerable to back injuries.
But it’s also true that someone sitting at a computer all day long could be slowly weakening their spine and a subsequent injury could be traced back to their work environment.
That means safety has to start on the first day.
If the work involves heavy lifting, a review on the basics of how to lift (with the legs, bend the knees, etc.) should take place, even if the new hire looks like they walked straight out of the gym.
The same goes for the new tech hire.
Let them sit at their new desk.
Make sure their line of vision to the computer screen is straight and doesn’t involve a steady, downward crane of the neck.
Make sure a part of the employee orientation process is getting workers like these situated comfortably.
As a new employee, they might still be shy about speaking up, but your HR person should be watching this carefully.
Ultimately, make certain safety is a part of your culture.
Every business has times when things get rushed and employees get frustrated.
They need to know management will be more upset at sloppy lift practices than they will over a modest delay.
In short, make sure your employees know you have their back – literally – by following these seven vital safety tips.