While most people think that workplace injuries most commonly happen within a career where you’re lifting heavy items or doing real manual labor, you can get injured from almost any job you may have. For those who work at a desk most of the day, you’re still very susceptible to workplace injuries, especially when you do repetitive tasks during your day at the office. So to help ensure that you’re able to stay healthy and physically fit, here are three tips to help you avoid injuries from repetitive work tasks.
Switch Between Different Muscle Groups
One of the best ways to keep yourself from stress- or strain-related injuries that happen as part of a desk job is to frequently switch between using different muscle groups. According to Mike Rich, a contributor to SafetyServicesCompany.com, you should try to make these adjustments at least every hour or so to combat strain. By doing this, you’ll allow the muscles you’ve been to take a little rest while still being able to get your work done. If you need to, you may want to speak to your boss about potentially cross training or taking on additional responsibilities that will help you get up out of your chair every so often so you can rest your muscles.
Take Advantage Of Ergonomics
Another way you can help minimize the strain of repetitive movements at work is to take advantage of ergonomics. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, using an ergonomic tool means that tool is specially fitted to work with you and your body to reduce strain and stress. When using these tools, you’ll have less fatigue, more productivity, and experience less pain or potential for injury. You may want to talk to your boss about getting tools that will fit better for you ergonomically so that you can have better job performance and avoid workers’ compensation claims in the future.
Rest And Heal When Not At Work
Depending on the amount of damage these repetitive tasks cause on your body when you’re at work, you might have to take some steps to counteract them when you’re not at work. To do this, Marjorie Hecht, a contributor to Healthline.com, advises trying to follow the guidelines of RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Additionally, you might also want to take some anti-inflammatory medicines that can help treat the symptoms and try to heal your body from the inside out. As the problems progress, you might need to seek additional medical attention to further treat the issues or find ways you can minimize the pain and strain you feel.
If you do repetitive movements at work each day, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you avoid getting injured from these daily work tasks.
