Deschutes County Oregon -- 4/5/2011 --
April 4 through April 10 is National Public Health Week and the Deschutes County Health Services Department is recognizing the occasion by distributing helpful safety information each day this week. It only takes a minute for an injury to happen – but also just takes a minute to take proactive steps to prevent accidents from happening.
Each day of National Public Health Week highlights an area of our lives where we should focus on safety. Today’s area of focus is preventing injuries at work.
Work can put a lot of wear and tear on your body. Back injuries are the most common type of workplace injury. You can injure your back, shoulders, or neck if you lift or carry heavy objects. You are more likely to get injured if you twist your body when you lift heavy things. You can hurt yourself at work when you do the same activity over and over again, like typing or working on an assembly line. This type of injury is called a repetitive motion injury.
Lift things safely. When you lift something heavy: Bend your legs, keep your back straight and test the weight of the object first. If it’s too heavy, get help.
Get more tips on lifting safely at work by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-131/Lifting.html.
Prevent repetitive motion injuries. Sit and stand up straight while you work. Arrange your equipment to fit your body: Adjust your chair to your height, put the tools you use where you can easily reach them. Try the suggestions you find at this link for working safely at the computer: http://www.aapmr.org/patients/conditions/pain/Pages/workusa.aspx.
Take short breaks.Give your muscles a rest. Take short breaks often and stretch your muscles. Try these stretches at work: http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/healthandsafety/ergonomics/atwork/pages/ergo_computers.aspx#muscular.
Get enough sleep. Getting quality sleep every night is important for performing well at work. When you are well rested, you are more likely to make good decisions and avoid getting hurt.
Stay healthy. A healthy body helps protect you from injuries on the job. To stay in shape, eat healthy and get active. Aim for 2.5 hours a week of moderate aerobic activity, like walking fast or raking leaves. Do strengthening activities, like sit-ups or push-ups, two days a week.
Start today with small steps.Get help if you need to lift something heavy, plan short breaks into your work day, and wash your hands to stay healthy www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/ .
For more information about National Public Health Week, please visit www.nphw.org/nphw11/first1.htm or call the Deschutes County Health Services Department at (541) 322-7446.
