| One of the most common work-related injuries is | | | | slips as its beinglifted, hitting the head on a solid |
| back pain. This can be caused by simple work | | | | object, straining back muscles by improper lifting. |
| activities such as sitting at your office chair or | | | | These types of accidents can jolt the back, joints, |
| lifting of heavy objects. If you establish certain | | | | neck resulting in muscle tearing orstrain on the |
| workplace ergonomics, especially when seatd in | | | | soft tissue of the back. |
| your office chair, it can widely reduce work | | | | Physically demanding tasks that cause injury |
| related back pains and even injuries. It will also | | | | Tasks that are either physically demanding or |
| help employees maintain a healthy back and not | | | | require repetitive lifting are at a high risk for |
| take work home with them at least in the pain | | | | no-accident and Accident-injuries. A good example |
| part of the job. Your office chair can help you to | | | | of this is people who work in the health care |
| better health and productivity | | | | industry. Patients come in all sizes and have |
| Ergonomics must be targeted to each individual | | | | differing needs. Patients often need assistance |
| worker and the tasks that he or she performs. It | | | | rising, walking, changing position. This situation is |
| is helpful to go thru all of the job descriptions at | | | | also seen often by factory workers and firemen |
| your work place and to tailor a ergonomic | | | | and construction workers whose job requires daily |
| program that best suits each individual worker. It | | | | lifting. |
| is also important to take into account the physical | | | | Injuries sustained by sitting in an office chair |
| abilities of each worker as well as their personal | | | | Workers in the 21st century often sit most of |
| limitations. There are two types of situations that | | | | the day. Many work at a computer, while sitting in |
| regularly cause worker to either report back pains | | | | an office chair which can place them at high risk |
| or to actually sustain and injury. | | | | for no-accident back injuries. |
| 1. No-accident injury, where pain can develop from | | | | Office and computer or workstation ergonomics, |
| the result of regular duties andrequirement of the | | | | can assist in minimizing the risks of repetitive |
| worker. Repetitive motions, fatigue, prolonged | | | | injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the |
| activity, poorbody mechanics can all be | | | | most common injuries that most have heard of. |
| contributing factors to this type of injury. This | | | | Other symptoms of improper ergonomics can be |
| type ofinjury often occurs by sitting in an office | | | | neck strain, lower back pain and pain in the legs. |
| chair or standing for long periods of time | | | | Now that you've learned about all of the common |
| 2. Accident-Injury, where an event that is not | | | | cause of workplace injury it is important to |
| anticipated cause an injury whileperforming the | | | | understand how to prevent this. |
| task. Some common cases of this is a load that | | | | |