Musculoskeletal issues are common in the workplace. Employees often ignore pain and body aches which can often lead to long-term issues.
Musculoskeletal disorders, also known as MSDs, account for a major proportion of workplace injuries. These injuries not only affect performance and productivity, but can also have long-lasting effects if not addressed in time. Common MSD issues that arise among employees include carpal tunnel, tendonitis, degenerative disc disease, sprained ligament, and much more.
As an employer, it’s essential to make the workplace safe and healthy for employees to work and be productive. The work environment should be designed to reduce the risk of MSDs.
Here are some ways to reduce the risk of developing MSDs in the workplace:
Schedule breaks
Schedule breaks for your employees so that they can stretch their limbs now and again. These breaks also help them feel refreshed. Taking more breaks reduces stress and fatigue experienced in the workplace. These breaks don’t need to be too long either. Micro-breaks of 2 minutes were also found to be effective in preventing musculoskeletal pain.
Educate employees
Training is the most effective way to prevent MSD. Spread awareness among employees about MSDs and how they can begin to manifest. Such training sessions include knowledge on exercises, benefits of regular breaks, and how a healthy diet helps with the symptoms. Such training also makes employees aware of their posture when it comes to sitting, standing, and even using the computer.
Have standing desks installed
Standing desks allow employees to relax the pressure on their spine without having to forgo work. Have hybrid standing desks installed so that employees can work comfortably while standing.
Provide an active environment
A sedentary lifestyle is the main reason behind MSD in the workplace. Sitting for long hours with a poor posture cause multiple issues. Provide employees an active environment to promote muscular strength. Introduce resistance training, yoga, or Pilates in the organization 2 to 3 times a week. These sessions can target the neck, shoulders, and spine. Employees can learn exercises that they can do to help their symptoms and prevent MSD from developing.
Encourage employees to speak up about their symptoms
As an organization, you need to be willing to listen to employees who are facing symptoms of MSD. Encourage them to report their issues as they begin to feel them. The earlier you get treatment for the issue, the quicker the healing process. Common symptoms of MSD include stiffness in the joints, tight muscles, numbness, inflammation in the area.
Metro Safety Training provides training to organizations so that their employees are prepared for emergencies. We offer occupational first aid training courses in Vancouver, fall protection training, confined space awareness training, and much more.
For more information about our courses, call 604-521-4227.
