How to Avoid a Back Injury at Work

If your job involves lifting heavy objects throughout the day then to avoid a back injury at work , the thing you need to do is to take more breaks according to an article by medicalnewstoday. The article also suggests that, less experienced worker should take more breaks than their more experienced colleagues, due to the risk of injury being higher. According to the university, the students carried out the study on a number of individuals, who were monitored during their working hours placing boxes on to a conveyor belt, the students then measured the amount of oxygen reaching their lower backs.

By measuring the amount of oxygen if the muscles the students were able to tell whether the muscles were fatigued, which signifies the muscles are over worked. This is the first apparent study which examines the reaction of muscles when over worked.

During the study the participants’ backs required more oxygen as the day went on, even though they were carrying out the same job throughout the day. The half an hour lunch the employees took, enabled their backs to recover. The measurements were measured by special devices which the employees wore during the day, the priority for the students carrying out the research was to make sure the employees did not grow fatigued, which increase their chance of a back injury.

Fatigue in the muscles is caused by lack of blood flow when they are tensed, which prevents the oxygen flow. Once muscles become fatigues workers start to use different muscles, which can increase the stress of the spin and ultimately result in a back injury.

To conclude the steps to take, to avoid a back injury are;

• Take a two 15 minute breaks, preferably one in mid-morning and another mid afternoon, this will enable the muscles to recover.
• If possible take a longer break of 30 minutes.

The only way to prevent a back injury is to take more breaks, if your employer does not allow you to take multiple breaks, then take your breaks later on in the day. As the day goes on you are more at risk of a back injury. (If your job involves heavy lifting)

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