Reduce Your Insurance Claims

Prevent or minimize body strains and sprains:

Lifting, pushing and overreaching are common causes of strains and sprains. Any job that requires you to sit or stand bent in an awkward position can cause excess stress and strain on muscles. Strains and sprains affect the back, arms, shoulders, hands, legs, etc.

Many strains and sprains occur because of poor material handling. Don't try to move or lift an object you can't handle. Workers lift things that weigh too much or they lift incorrectly. Get help with heavy loads.  Instead of lifting a 75-pound load, break it down into smaller parts. Lift correctly by bending your knees, not your back. Carry loads close to your body. Injuries can occur when workers try to pull or lift a heavy or awkward object without help or lift an object while twisting from the waist. When carrying a load, avoid bending or lifting upward unnecessarily. Keep as much of the load as you can at waist level.

If you can't break it down, get help from a mechanical device or lift it with another worker. Make sure moving equipment works properly or it will cause you to strain unnecessarily just trying to get it to work. If the wheels on a cart are not aligned, you could strain your arms, shoulders, and back trying to move it.

Change your working positions frequently. Chronic strain due to an unchanging work position can weaken your back, arms, and shoulders. Adjust working heights to prevent slumping or excessive reaching.

A vicious cycle develops when chronic strain continues; muscles become less able to withstand strenuous activity and grow more prone to injury of all kinds. Stretch during the day to increase your flexibility. Take body relaxation breaks by letting your shoulders and neck muscles go limp; swivel your head or arms or flex your hands and fingers.

Take care of your whole body with exercise, proper posture, a sensible diet and adequate rest. If your muscles or ligaments have weakened over time from lack of exercise or age, you are more apt to get a strain or sprain than if you are physically fit.

Vehicle Safety:

What is the leading cause of worker fatality in the United States?

The answer may surprise you. It is not machinery accidents, exposure to harmful substances, fire or falls. It is fleet motor vehicle accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on-the-job vehicle accidents each year cause 3,000 deaths and 332,000 injuries. These incidents cost employers more than $42 billion annually in property damage, medical costs, disability and life insurance payments, in addition to the cost of lost productivity and hiring and training new or temporary replacement workers.

Given the high incidence of fleet accidents and their often-devastating consequences, it is vital to minimize drivers’ risks. The best way to achieve this goal is to create a driver safety culture, which includes annual checks of employees' motor vehicle records and an active driver-training program.

Driver checks should go beyond verifying the individual has a valid license. A license simply makes it legal for one to drive, not necessarily suitable to represent your business behind the wheel. It is management’s responsibility to establish criteria for the selection of drivers and to follow through with the enforcement of the established criteria. Have a written policy defining acceptable "point" limits and possible sanctions, which may range from counseling or remedial training to discharge.

Prevent finger, hand, and wrist injuries:

    * Stop, change, or take a break from activities that cause your symptoms.
    * Reduce the speed and force of repetitive movements in activities such as hammering, typing, knitting, quilting, sweeping, raking, racquet sports, or rowing.
    * Change positions when holding objects, such as a book or playing cards, for any length of time.
    * Use your whole hand to grasp an object. Gripping with only your thumb and index finger can stress your wrist.
    * Consider using special gloves that support the wrist and have vibration-absorbing padding when working with tools that vibrate.
    * Wear protective gear, such as wrist guards, in sports activities.
    * Do exercises that strengthen your hand and arm muscles.
    * Review your work posture and body mechanics.
    * Organize your work so that you can change your position occasionally while maintaining a comfortable posture.
    * Position your work so you do not have to turn excessively to either side.
    * Keep your shoulders relaxed when your arms are hanging by your side.
    * When using a keyboard, keep your forearms parallel to the floor or slightly lowered and keep your fingers lower than your wrists. A keyboard wrist support may help you do this. Take frequent breaks to stretch your fingers, hands, wrist, shoulders and neck.