Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injuries in the Workplace

Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injuries in the Workplace

No employer wants an employee to get hurt on the job, but they can’t avoid that sometimes, accidents will happen. And these don’t just have to be sudden injuries sustained in random accidents; they could be injuries caused by doing the same thing day after day, year after year. These types of employee injuries are commonly called repetitive motion injuries, and they can be just as devastating to an employee’s ability to make a living.

When someone sustains an injury on the job, they often qualify for workers’ compensation, which is supplementary income and medical assistance provided by their employer. Generally, repetitive motion injuries entitle them to this coverage. Let’s take a closer look at the significance of such injuries.

What Are Repetitive Injuries in the Workplace?

Most people do a lot of the same things at work each day. Over time, this will begin to affect the body, sometimes in very negative ways. Generally, repetitive motion injuries occur when the muscles, tendons, and other body parts suffer significant damage as a result of performing the same action many times. Indeed, almost any part of the body is at risk of a repetitive motion injury.

Some common examples of repetitive motion injuries include:

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Lower back pain
Rotator cuff syndrome
Trigger finger syndrome

Tendonitis
Bursitis

It’s important to recognize that almost any employee can suffer these injuries, regardless of their job function. Still, some occupations pose higher injury risks than others. Common sufferers of repetitive motion injury victims include:

Line workers
Deliverymen

Janitors
Health care workers
Stock clerks

Indicators of repetitive motion injuries might include tingling, pain, tenderness, or numbness in affected areas, to name a few. More severe ramifications might also result.

To keep these injury risks as contained as possible, it’s important to identify where they exist. Only at this point is it possible to work to minimize these hazards as best you can.

Preventing Repetitive Motion Injuries

While it’s very hard to prevent repetitive motion injuries altogether, you still have the chance to minimize the liability through several practical steps:

Monitor employees as they work, and if they seem to be straining, this indicates they are likely at risk of an injury.
Ensure employees take breaks from repetitive tasks. Just turning away for a few minutes each hour can help minimize the risk of putting too much strain on themselves.
Don’t limit employees to only doing a single task. You want them to engage in various tasks. This can help to reduce the risk that they are performing the same task time and time again.

Educating your employees about the best practices for avoiding injury is also important. It can help you teach them to know exactly what to do to keep themselves safe. Yes, workers’ comp insurance will be there to help them if they do get hurt, but you don’t want this to be a significant risk in the first place.

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