Overexertion: Lift Correctly and Know Your Limits
June is National Safety Month and June 15 to 21 has a focus on overexertion. According to the Web site, www.nsc.org, back injuries are the number one major issue in workplace safety problems and are the third most common reason for visiting the emergency room for a non-fatal unintentional injury.
Ironically, the first day of the week focused on overexertion, I managed to pull something in my right arm in the shoulder area. I obviously did not know my arm’s flexibility limits and overexerted it somehow.
Although I’m not actually certain I pulled something, there has been a lot of pain recently and my movement is limited if I don’t want to cause pain. Eventually I will have to ice it if the pain doesn’t go away with Ibuprofen and Aleve within the week.
Anyway, here are some home overexertion tips from the Web site to avoid some safety risks:
1) Warm up before doing any heavy lifting or carrying.
2) Lift with a partner to lighten your load.
3) Use proper tools or equipment, rather than straining to make a reach.
4) Slow your pace – and if you get tired, take a break.
Here are some workplace overexertion tips from the Web site to avoid some safety risks:
1) Lift with your knees, not with your back.
2) Reduce large loads into smaller ones or, when possible, use mechanical assistance.
3) Stack items you are carrying to lift safely.
4) If you sit for long periods, make sure your chair fits correctly and is ergonomically designed.
5) Exercise and get proper rest.
People need to learn their limits and safe lifting techniques to avoid overexertion.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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