MyTherapyPrograms.Com
____________________________________________________________________________________
Solution Name: Safely Performing Work Tasks
SKU: SPWTSOTPT
Solution Plan:
Staying safe at work is very important. If you don't work in a safe way, an individual can get hurt or become sick. The good news is that there are things you can do – both at work and at home – to lower your chances of getting hurt. Take these steps to prevent injuries at work:
Lift things safely (use your legs if possible).
Arrange work area to fit your body.
Take short breaks and stretch.
Wear protective equipment.
Ask about available health resources at work.
Ask questions when unsure
Manual handling – protecting your back -The back is particularly vulnerable to manual handling injuries. Safety suggestions include controlling risk factors in the workplace, in addition to personal controls:
Lift and carry heavy loads correctly by keeping the load close to the body and lifting with the thigh muscles.
Never attempt to lift or carry loads if they are too heavy.
Pushing a load (using your body weight to assist) will be less stressful on the body than pulling a load.
Use mechanical aids or get help to lift or carry a heavy load whenever possible.
Organize the work area to reduce the amount of bending, twisting and stretching required.
Take frequent breaks.
Cool down after heavy work with gentle, sustained stretches.
Improve your fitness – exercise regularly to strengthen muscles and ligaments, and reduce excess body weight
Warm up cold muscles with gentle stretches before engaging in any manual work.
Manual handling – assessing the risks- The next step is to assess which factors are contributing to the risk of injury.
Typical risk factors that can increase the risk of injury include:
type of work – working in a fixed posture for a prolonged period
layout of the workspace – a cramped or poorly designed workspace can force people to assume awkward postures, such as bending or twisting
weight of an object – a heavy load may be difficult to lift and carry
location of an object – heavy objects that must be lifted awkwardly, for example above shoulder height or from below knee level
duration and frequency – increasing the number of times an object is handled or the length of time for which it is handled
condition of an object – more effort may be required to manipulate badly designed or poorly maintained equipment
awkward loads – loads that are difficult to grasp, slippery or an awkward shape
handling a live person or animal – lifting or restraining a person or animal can cause sprains and other injuries.
(Source Workplace Safety)
Required Materials: N/A