Nov 26, 2023 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
When it comes to on-the-job injuries, you don’t have to do something physically taxing to face them. In fact, many work injuries happen right inside of the office, or cubicle. Some of the more common office injuries come in the form of back, neck, and carpal tunnel injuries. These injuries vary greatly from injuries faced when working in, say, construction or a factory. This injuries typically occur because of long hours spent at a desk, hunched over a computer, and ignoring proper techniques for avoiding pain and injury. The fact of the matter is, there’s no real training when it comes to how to sit at your desk without pain. That’s where we come in. Below, you’ll find some methods for office ergonomics that can help prevent injury, and increase productivity.
Office Ergonomics: Prevent Office Space Injuries
Your Chair
One of the first places to begin office ergonomics is with your chair. Your chair supports your spine and sets the tone for how your back and neck will operate. Therefore, you want to make sure it offers firm support. If your chair is sinking in or giving, it may not be lending enough support. In addition, you want to adjust the height so your feet can touch the floor. Also, adjust the arm rests so your arm can rest comfortably by your sides. You want to be able to use proper posture while sitting at your desk.
Your Keyboard and Mouse
The next place you’ll want to implement office ergonomics is with your keyboard and mouse. These two little devices can be the cause of neck pain, arthritis, and carpal tunnel. So, you want to make sure you’re taking the steps to prevent these injuries. Begin by placing the keyboard within easy reach. Practice keeping your arms close to your body and your wrists out straight. In addition, make sure the keyboard is at a level equal to or slightly lower than the height of your elbows. You never want to bend your arm upwards to reach your keyboard or mouse. Also, try using shortcuts to reduce the amount of typing and clicking you must do with your hands.
Your Monitor
Possibly the most important part of office ergonomics is your monitor. Looking at a computer screen can be bad for your neck and back. Try to adjust the monitor so that you are neither looking down or up. Instead, you want it to be directly at eye level. Also, make sure it’s directly behind your keyboard so your whole body is facing one direction. You don’t want to have to strain or twist to see your monitor. In addition, try to keep it about an arm’s length away so you’re not straining your eyes with it being too close or far away.
The key thing to understand is that worker’s injuries can look quite different, depending on the setting within which you work. Therefore, you’ll want to create your own safety protocols that fit the setting that you work in. By taking the time to observe potential injuries, you can create methods for intervention and prevention.
Oct 15, 2023 | Driving, Work Injuries
Ride-sharing safety has been a hot topic in the media recently due to a number of incidents surrounding people getting into the wrong vehicles. In doing so, many people have ended up in harm’s way. Now, upon calling one of these services, you get a notice: check the license plate, check your driver, and be aware of every step along the way. While rider safety is absolutely a top concern— so is driver safety. We often focus in on the customer, while ride-share service drivers are just as much at risk of facing danger…
Ride-Share Service Drivers: Safety Measures
Be aware of pickup/drop off areas
Let’s face it: there are certain areas within every city that can are more likely to be dangerous. We don’t want to classify any rider, or resident, as a good or bad person. However, some areas merely present more of a risk. You might not want to put your riders into a box, but especially when driving late at night— consider the area you’ll be going into. Your rider might not be a problem, however, knowingly putting yourself at risk is ill-advised for ride-share service drivers — and riders too.
Consider a recording device
Depending on the state you’re in, there might be certain rules and regulations to using a camera inside of your car. However, in many areas, you merely have to tell the people in your car that they’re being recorded. Having this added feature is an insurance policy for you, and your vehicle. You might discourage riders from behaving badly, breaking the law, or doing something they might have considered before seeing that they’re under careful watch. This doesn’t have to be threatening— just a security measure.
Don’t take personal calls
Aside from security measures, also consider safety measures. Many people who have used a ride-sharing service have seen their driver take a personal call or answer a message before. You have a personal life, and people to communicate with. However, understand that you have a responsibility to keeping your riders safe. Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands on the wheel. Furthermore, make your riders change their destination within the app if they choose to do so. It’s an easy, quick change for them. However, it is another distraction if you have to do it yourself.
Take a break
Lastly, as ride-share service drivers, you have the unique opportunity to make your own hours. This is an undeniable benefit. However, many drivers will also put themselves in a compromising position by driving through the night. Uber and Lyft limit their drivers in terms of how long their shift can be. However, when and how you drive— is entirely up to you. Therefore, some drivers will choose to a 12 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. shift, or something similar. While this is likely a pretty profitable shift— it’s important that you take a moment here and there to stop for food, water, coffee, and a quick stretch. You want to avoid fatigue and keep your senses sharp for the long road ahead.
Oct 9, 2023 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
Most worker’s injuries that you come across are physical. A broken bone, a concussion, a bad slip… There are plenty of ways to receive an injury on the job. However, one means of injury, is illness that you contract on the job site. Just like a physical injury, workplace illness can look plenty of different ways. As many of you know, the flu has been running rampant in the Carolinas over the past few weeks. It seems like between the weather change, and kids getting back to school— most families can’t seem to catch a break.
However, what you might not realize, is that schools are not the only place where illnesses spread like wildfire. In fact, work spaces are just as common. So, what can you do? Workplace illness prevention tactics are actually quite simple, and as an employee— or employer, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your workplace sick-free.
Workplace Illness Prevention Tactics: Fighting Flu Season
Disinfect your spaces
One of the most obvious steps you can take to prevent workplace illness, is to keep your spaces clean and disinfected. You’d be amazed how many germs can make their way into your workspace throughout the day. Shuffled papers, trips to the coffee maker, door knobs… No matter where you go, it is likely that someone with sickness has also been there at some point within the day or week. While this certainly heightens the risk of contracting a workplace illness— disinfecting those high-traffic areas can make a big difference.
So, wipe down your desk, your keyboard, phone, even the communal coffee pot. Contributing the those spaces that you use, and share, goes a long way.
Don’t take flu season lightly
We all think that we’re immune to the sickness, and workplace illness, everyone else faces every year. However, many (or even most) of us find ourselves bedridden at the hands of that infamous ‘something going around’. The flu, along with those pesky colds we pass around, are highly contagious. In fact, a statistic published by the NORC stated that 41 percent of Americans have not, and will not, get a flu shot. Many claimed a lack of effectiveness, and nasty side effects which keep them from participating.
However, when you’re working in group settings— you might be risking your own, or someone else’s, chance of contracting a workplace illness.
Know your limits
We all know how important it is to not miss work. However, the importance of not going to work when you’re sick— is also essential to understand. While we appreciate that you have a strong work ethic, consider the risk of workplace illness in doing so. Many of us have the capability to do some amount of work from our homes. So, if you are sick but still have the ability to work— consider asking your boss to be put on light duty, or remote work duty, until the illness passes.
Oct 2, 2023 | Accident prevention, Work Injuries
With summer around the corner, you can expect the sun the be at its most prevalent and strongest. While the sun definitely has its benefits, it can also be dangerous as well. Therefore, proper sun protection is very important. Knowing how to protect yourself will allow you to work in the sun safely and avoid damaging your body…
Sun Protection: Avoiding Work-Related Burns
Clothing
One of the most immediate forms of sun protection comes in what you’re wearing. Being out in the sun can be deceptive. Even if you don’t think the sun is all that strong, your skin can quickly get burnt or damaged. That’s why it’s a good idea to try and cover up as best you can, especially with those more-sensitive areas.
For example, long-sleeved shirts and pants can help cover your arms and legs, respectively. Hats are also a very useful means of sun protection. Not only do they help cover your face, they also help protect your more sensitive scalp from the sun. Sunglasses are another handy thing to wear, as they protect your eyes from the UV rays as well as make it easier for you to see.
Sunscreen
While clothing can help, sometimes the heat or your job requirements means you can’t fully cover yourself. That’s where sunscreen and sun block come in handy. These forms of sun protection help give you a very large boost in keeping your skin safe. However, it’s important to use the right kind of protection.
Sunscreen is designed to be absorbed by the skin and absorbs UV Aging rays. Sun block sits on top of the skin, and blocks UV Burning rays. However, these days, most formulas are mixtures of sunscreens and blocks, ensuring you get the protection you need. Make sure to get sun protection with a high enough SPF for your needs, and reapply as needed.
Healing
Of course, if you’ve already got a sunburn, then sun protection becomes especially important. Continuous sun exposure on burnt skin can not only make it worse, but also potentially increase the risk of things like skin cancer. If you have a sunburn, make sure to limit your time out in the sun, stay hydrated, and use things like aloe vera to help your skin heal.
Oct 1, 2023 | Accident prevention, Work Injuries
When getting ready for your bartending shift, you might pull out your makeup, uniform, and those trusty non-slip shoes. While being uniformed is absolutely a requirement of the job, there are also a few other steps you might consider taking to keep your body in check. Bartending can be a pretty physically demanding job to have; you’re on your feet, moving around, and maybe lifting heavy objects from time to time. Not to mention, the hours can be pretty long. For these reasons, among many others, we highly suggest a pre-shift stretching session to help limber you up and ward off some of those unwanted lower back pains that come later in the evening.
Pre-Shift Stretching: Bartending Essentials
Preparing for physical activity
It’s just work. Therefore, many of us prepare for it by throwing on clothes and walking out the door. However, your job is pretty physical. From lifting kegs, to mopping floors, and tending to twenty patrons at a time. In short: you’re the savior of every bar-goers Friday or Saturday night. Bartending is athletic performance, and a pre-shift stretching session will help you prepare for such. Loosen those muscles, get them warm, and improve your range of motion before you take on that 14-hour shift.
Tend to those problem areas
If you’ve ever bartended a day in your life, you can probably point out the areas which hurt most at the end of it all. From the soles of your feet, to your lower back, hips, neck, and so forth… When you do your pre-shift stretching, target those areas specifically with certain stretches and yoga poses. While targeting those specific areas is important, a full body stretch is never a bad idea.
Mind your body when it needs rest
We live in a society that pushes the idea of pushing your limits. Not to mention, a majority of bar and restaurant culture operates on the idea that being able to work your shift is more important than mental and physical health. In times of crisis, such as a winter storm or an injury of some sort, you might feel guilty (or even incapable) when it comes to calling out or getting your shift picked up. Pre-shift stretching won’t necessarily keep you from getting a cold, especially after a long few days behind the bar. However, the idea we are stressing here is self-care. Minding the needs of your mind and body is important in any profession.
Self-care in any profession…
If you find yourself injured on the job for any reason, please feel free to give us a call. We can discuss your case, your healing process, and any benefit you might be entitled to. Your body, and healing process, is important to long-term health. Don’t let it go unnoticed.
Sep 10, 2023 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
When it comes to talking to your doctor, you should be honest. In all scenarios regarding your health, honesty is the best policy. But what about during a worker’s compensation case? After an injury, your patient to doctor communication about your injuries should be completely honest. It’s important to paint a clear picture of what happened. Keep in mind, though, this description will not only be heard by your doctor. Your medical records can go under review by lawyers, insurance companies, and judges.
Doctor Communication: Rules to Go By
Be Specific
There is a connection between all parts of the body. Nothing is separate or its own entity. If you are having problems with your knees after an injury mainly regarding your back, tell your doctor. He or she can decide if there is a relation to your worker’s compensation case injury or not. Doctor communication should be thorough and full of details.
Be Knowledgeable
Know what you want to tell your doctor before going in. It might be useful to write down some small details so you don’t forget. Keep in mind that you should make the most of the doctor communication you have. It could be some time before you get back to see that specific doctor.
Be Friendly
Being friendly to office staff, doctors, and nurses will get you further than being rude. Your doctor communication should come across as serious but friendly. Nurses and doctors will be more willing to listen and help if you aren’t rude. Remember that they didn’t get you in this position and are simply trying to help.
Be Honest
You should be honest with your doctor about any pre-existing conditions or medications you are taking. It could save your life because the way some medications interact with each other could kill you. Doctor communication is mostly private, so you should not feel embarrassed or afraid to confide in them.
When it comes to healing after an injury, honesty is the best policy. You should avoid saying things like “I’m fine” if that’s not completely true. Your doctor communication does not only have to be about how good you are feeling; it can be about how bad you are feeling, too.
