10 Easy Ways to Reduce Workplace Injuries

Increasingly, computer-related health injuries are a leading cause of workplace occupational hazards. Computer usage is common by a substantial part of the working environment all over the world.

There are ways to reduce computer-related health trauma, by observing safety measures to counter injuries caused by the office environment. Occupational safety measures recommend healthy use of computers so as to lessen the negative impact on human health.

Safety professionals are now advocating precautions in the use of computers that have become virtual standalone offices. Health problems caused by exposure to computers occur through cumulative trauma disorders connected with prolonged interaction on machines.

Common fatigue may be more than just physical stress. Stay on guard if symptoms persist after a night of rest or interfere significantly with work-related activities. If the problem is indeed work-related then you need to look for ways to adjust to your work environment and work towards alleviating workplace health problems.

Here are 10 easy steps to do ensure a healthy work environment:

1 Counter the effect of carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrist and hand by relieving yourself of the mouse and keyboard from time to time. Take breaks to let your fingers relax and enjoy hand rubs in between.

2 You need to adjust the location of work and the angle of the machine in such a way that your body continuously maintains an unstrained and comfortable position. Your arms, forearms and shoulders should be fully relaxed.

3 More often it is the continuous exposure to the computer monitor that may be the cause of eyestrain. In this case you should always have a quality glare filter fixed on your monitor screen.

4 Work with a light screen background (dark type or images on white or pale background). You'll find it is easier on your eyes.

5 Place the monitor and source documents so that they are about the same distance from your eyes. Use a document holder immediately next to the monitor.

6 Rest the muscles of your eyes by focusing on a distant object occasionally.

7 Change your body position periodically throughout the day.

8 The position of the keyboard should be at a proper level in front of you. It is important to ensure proper elbow height that enables you to type with straight wrists.

9 It's important to be completely relaxed while working on the computer. Injuries and pain can be a problem if you remain constantly tensed as that affects the muscles of the neck and shoulders.

10 A good chair significantly reduces the risk of lower back pain or injury. An ergonomic chair provides comfortable lumbar support and allows for a variety of seated postures.

How to Prevent Falls in the Workplace

It is a fact that more than 16 percent of all workplace falls result in injuries or illness that affect the productive environment of a workplace. It becomes essential then to employ means to prevent falls at the workplace. Falls at the workplace are mainly of two kinds: those that happen in single-story structures and those that occur from a higher level.

Most falls occurring from slips and trips at the same level are caused due to slipping on an icy surface or tripping over an object. A fraction of the falls occurring from different levels happen when people fall off ladders, steps or a higher floor. It is also a fact that falls at the workplace can be prevented. Although accidents are not easy to guess, it's still quite possible to prevent them from happening. Doing away with unsafe acts and conditions can control such accidents. Look for ways to prevent slips, trips and falls from occurring at the workplace. Once these hazards are eliminated you can usually prevent accidents from taking place.

Some of the precautions you can take to avoid accidents are:

. Ensure that all spills and wet surfaces are immediately cleaned up from the floor. Do not allow any residual slimy leftovers to be lying around on the floor as it could be a cause for a potential slip or fall.

. See to it that all walking pathways in the office are clutter-free. Do not allow normal walkways to be littered by any object that might result in people tripping and falling over.

. In case you need to reach up to something that's high up in the office, always use a safe stepladder. Never use chairs or desks to climb up to access things above your head.

. Make sure that you only carry loads that you can safely handle. While carrying objects, make sure that your line of vision is not affected and that you are not carrying a load that is too heavy-weighty objects may make you stumble under their weight.

. Always have good illumination around the office space. Whether indoors or near to the exteriors, ensure that lighting is adequate and visibility is not affected.

. Always wear good footwear when you are walking about. We may not have control over the condition of the surface that we walk on. But we do have control over what we choose to wear on our feet. Increasing friction between the soles of your shoes and the surface on which you are walking greatly reduces the risk of slip-injuries.

. Follow safety tips to choose the right shoes for the prevailing conditions. Wear hard rubber soles for greasy, concrete or wood flooring. Soft rubber shoes are good for dry surfaces. Crepe soles are best for rough concrete surfaces, dry or wet, and neoprene soles are good and safe on most wet or dry surfaces.

Fire Safety Tips

Faulty Wiring

Another common cause of deadly house fires is faulty wiring, and overloaded circuits. As we’ve mentioned before, the wiring in kitchens and bathrooms should include ground fault circuit interrupters, and bedrooms should be wired with arc fault circuit interrupters. You’ll want to check for these when buying a house. Old and worn out wiring is dangerous, and if your house is a few decades old, you should have its electrical system inspected.

It may need to be upgraded or replaced. If you’re worried about being cheated by an unethical contractor who recommends work that isn’t necessary, talk to friends and relatives, and have them recommend some reliable electricians you can trust. Don’t ignore it for fear of being ripped off. And no matter what condition the electrical system is in, if not used properly, it can cause a fire. A major source of problems is light bulbs. Many people never give the wattage much thought. Some people feel that if a light’s not bright enough, they can just use a higher wattage bulb in the socket and solve the problem. That’s not a good idea. Every light bulb socket should have the maximum wattage allowed labeled on it, and you should follow the guidelines. Seventy five and one hundred watt bulbs in sockets meant for sixty watt bulbs can, and do cause fires. It’s fine to use a lower wattage bulb than is recommended, but for safety’s sake, never exceed the maximum light bulb wattage on the socket.

Overloaded Circuits

Overloaded circuits are another big home safety problem. It’s easy to hook up too many appliances to too little electricity to do the job, but it’s also dangerous. You should always be aware of the power load of all the appliances hooked up to one circuit, and never exceed the capacity. Multi-outlet adapters have their place in homes, but only when used properly. They should never be used for appliances that require a lot of power.

If you’re constantly having trouble with the lights dimming, or fuses blowing, you’ve got a safety problem that needs fixing. Either the wiring is bad, or a circuit is overloaded somewhere. Don’t allow this situation to persist; investigate it and fix it. The same thing goes for extension cords. If they’re too flimsy for the job, you’re asking for trouble. You should never use an extension cord outside unless it was specifically designed and sold to be used outdoors. Any electrical appliances or devices that are malfunctioning or making strange noises should not be used, but repaired or discarded. If you ever do encounter an electrical fire, and the fire is small enough, unplug the device or appliance if possible. Then douse it with a fire extinguisher designed for electrical fires. If you don’t have one, or the fire is too big, get out of the house and call the fire department. You should never throw water on an electrical fire – you run a good risk of electrocution by doing so. Treat your electrical appliances and wiring with respect. Keep them well maintained, and adhere to power limits, and you’ll go along way toward making your home safe from fire hazards.