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 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.
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.
Jul 23, 2023 | Truck Driving, Work Injuries
Driving a truck means long periods of sitting and remaining cooped up in the truck’s cabin. Over time, all of that driving could lead to injury and stress buildup. That’s why it’s helpful to know some trucker exercise techniques. These techniques can help you remain limber and healthy despite all that long driving…
Trucker Exercise: Stretches And More
Back stretches
The first kind of trucker exercise to consider are back stretches. A good stretch is very useful for decompressing your spine and loosening your muscles. Plus, they’ll also help reduce back pains and make those long drives a lot more tolerable.
For example, a good stretch to try is the backbend. All you have to do is place your hands behind your back, and lean as far back as you can. Repeat this 5-10 times, and then do the same in the front. Also, when doing these front bends, try to put your hands on your hips, as this will help stretch your legs too.
Walking/running
The next trucker exercise technique to try is walking or running. Much like stretches, walking or running can be done anywhere with practically no equipment. For instance, you could do some walking around a rest stop before you get back in your truck. In fact, truckers can actually use their trucks to their advantage.
It’s not a bad idea to walk or run around your truck when you have the chance. 32 laps around a truck with a trailer is equal to about one mile. Plus, 30 minutes of walking or running tends to burn about 200-300 calories. Therefore, this is a great way to get some exercise while also stretching those muscles.
Bodyweight exercises
Another good form of trucker exercise to consider are bodyweight exercises. These exercises include things like push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, etc. These exercises are great because much like the previous examples, you need little to no extra equipment for them. Although, it might be a good idea to bring a workout mat so you don’t have to directly touch the ground!
It’s a good idea to first start with a handful of exercises and then do a few repeating reps of each whenever you have the chance. Then, switch it up and add some new ones in the mix. Not only will that keep some variety, it’ll also let you add in other exercises into the mix as well!
Jul 22, 2023 | Employment, Work Injuries
Recovering from an injury can be a lengthy process. It’s not uncommon to face feelings of stress and anxiety during difficult times. However, there are ways to stay positive and keep up healthy recovery behavior as you move past a work injury. Here are a few tips for keeping your spirits up while your recover…
Healthy Recovery Behavior: Making Positive Changes
Balance your diet
Choosing the right things to eat is a major part of healthy recovery behavior. Eating the right foods will help you recover faster than eating poorly. You’ll want to try and eat foods that are rich in vitamins and protein. Vitamins (like A, B, C, and D) and other nutrients like calcium, zinc, and copper promote tissue growth and immune system strength.
Make sure you’re also eating enough food as well. As you’re recovering, you won’t need as many calories as when you were working. However, cutting your intake by too much can impede your recovery. Your body uses more energy during the early stages of injury for repairs, so make sure to still eat enough to help your body along.
Stick to the plan
After your injury, your doctor will help you come up with a treatment plan. Healthy recovery behavior means sticking to this plan even when you might want to take a day off. Stick to your physical therapy visits or at-home exercise routines. Putting them off will just make your recovery last longer than it should. Following their plan will help you recover quickly and properly.
Set recovery goals
Sometimes, it can feel like you’re stuck during your recovery. You’ll feel like you’re doing all the right things, but not seeing improvement. Writing down goals for your recovery is a good way to keep yourself motivated during your recovery. Setting realistic goals for yourself gives you something to work towards and will show you’re really making progress.
Get some rest
Being well-rested is another large part of healthy recovery behavior. Poor sleep can leave you fatigued and unfocused, causing you to not recover as well as you should be. You might be tempted to try and push yourself through your recovery, but that’ll do you more harm than good in the long run.
Keeping a positive mindset is the biggest thing when it comes to recovering from an injury. If your mind is in the right place, then you’ll recover faster than you might’ve originally expected.
Jul 2, 2023 | Employment, Work Injuries
Coming back from war can be a huge adjustment, in a number of different ways. From PTSD, to getting back into your civilian life, and finding work outside of the military— no part of this change is easy. However, one part of that adjustment which should be made easier is finding employment post-deployment. However, the sad fact of the matter is, it can be really difficult for veterans to find work outside of the military. But, we’re here to help change that.
Finding Employment Post-Deployment: Veteran’s Affairs
Expect your job to be extremely different
One of the largest struggles for veteran’s readjusting into civilian life is the vast difference between the impact their job has on the world around them. After all, the choices you make during deployment can mean life or death. Therefore, a common complaint when finding employment post-deployment is that it lacks excitement and impact. While there is certainly some truth to your job not holding the same kind of impact as it did on the battlefront, you have to understand that the impact of your new position is merely a different type.
Understand that your impact will look different, but is still important
As we’ve begun to explain, you have to begin to understand that impact is not a one-trick pony. Every person in a job position serves a purpose. Depending on what your job is, your purpose will look a bit different. However, even when you’re serving coffee— you’re helping people start their day, be productive, and improve their attitude for the people around them. Your job, and the way you do it, makes a difference in how other people are able to do theirs. Finding employment post-deployment might mean adjusting your opinion on what making a difference looks like. This can be difficult sometimes. Therefore, it might help to try and put some of those reasons why you’re leaving the military into perspective.
Remember why you’re there
You left the military for a certain reason. That reason is unique to every single person. Whether your contract is up, you have a baby on the way, or you’ve been injured— your objective for getting out is something to keep in mind. Finding employment post-deployment can be difficult. Especially when you’re looking for the right fit. Finding something that focuses in on your special skills, as well as provides you with time to do those things you were missing out on while you were gone.
Research companies that aim to hire veterans
Companies such as Boeing, USAA, U.S. Customs, Amazon, and Coca Cola are among those listed as ‘companies actively looking to hire vets’. When finding employment post-deployment, a great place to start is at the Veterans Affairs office. There are many companies across the country that make it their mission to hire veterans, and the VA will often be able to point you in the right direction. However, there are plenty of resources you can find online as well.
