Take a day to help prevent repetitive strain injuries
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is promoting February 28th as Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness day. This presents the opportunity for workplaces to focus on job tasks that may contribute to repetitive strain injuries and to take the steps to prevent these injuries.
Our industry sees many workplace pains and strains that affect muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Usually the result of repetitive, forceful or awkward movements on joints, ligaments and other soft tissues, workers can experience symptoms like discomfort, pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and restricted movement. You should encourage your workers, at the first sign of a symptom, to inform their supervisor so steps can be taken to prevent a serious injury.
Repetitive strain injuries are common. These injuries can be prevented by one simple step — raising your workers’ awareness. We urge everyone to learn about ways to reduce the risk of repetitive strain and other musculoskeletal injuries.
Please see this week’s Safety Talk on ways to prevent strain and injury while shoveling.
