An Occupational Therapist Reveals How To

An Occupational Therapist AvoidReveals How to theInjuries Most Common Work Related

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Work related injuries happen far too frequently. The impact of an injury for an employee, their family, their team members and their employer can be significant. It’s not uncommon for recovery and rehabilitation to take weeks, sometimes even months. And for some, a lifetime of reduced mobility, impaired productivity and pain is the price paid for working in an un-safe or un-ergonomic manner.

For the employer the cost is also significant. Losing a skilled and experienced employee disrupts the workplace and reduces productivity. The phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is right on target when it comes to preventing work related injuries.

An Occupational Therapist can be your ounce of prevention by: • identifying potential problems in how employees are using and positioning their hands, back, legs or body as they work and • assessing the risk for repetitive strain injuries

Smart business owners and employers rely on Occupational Therapists to assess the work environment and develop proactive solutions that prevent injuries from happening. The minor cost incurred in an ounce of prevention, can save the pound of cure be it hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands and in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars in work related injury expenses. An injury can happen in an instant, or through repetitive motion, become more debilitating with time. For a worker with a disability, or requiring a return to work after a workplace injury, Occupational Therapists are specialists in selecting adaptive equipment or adjusting methods to be used with job tasks or actions.

The tips that follow may seem simple, even elementary. The reason they are included is that ignoring safe work practices can result in injury.

Here’s to wishing you a long and injury free career.

Christel K.A. Seeberger BSc.O.T., OT(c), OTR., OTReg.(NB), OTReg.(PE) Occupational Therapist

3 10 Occupational Therapy Tips for a SAFE TWEET NOW Day at Work

1. Plan out your job tasks and assemble all needed supplies in advance.

2. Get a cart or trolley or help to transport heavy items.

3. Stop excessive bending, awkward reaching, heavy carrying or heavy lifting.

4. Take frequent movement breaks throughout the day. A good rule of thumb is 10 minutes out of your chair for every 50 minutes you sit in it.

5. Pace yourself by rotating heavy tasks with light tasks throughout the day and the week.

6. Use two hands when you need to lift objects.

7. Slide objects along a counter or desk instead of lifting them when possible.

8. Avoid a prolonged tight grip or twisting motion of your hands and fingers.

9. Make your workplace and workspace comfortable for your mind, body and spirit. Consider your body proportions when setting up your desk or workstation. Listen to music or block out noise altogether with headphones, wear comfortable clothing, and choose pleasing visuals for your work area.

10. Listen to your body, pain is a signal that you are overdoing it.

4 TWEET NOW Lift Smart? Lift Safe!

There are 5 ergonomic risk factors:

1. REPETITION Do I have to repeat this movement? Repetition increases your risk of injury.

2. FORCE Do I need to use excessive strength? Excessive strength increases your risk of injury.

3. VIBRATION Am I being exposed to something that vibrates? Vibration increases your risk of injury.

4. TEMPERATURE Is the environment too hot or too cold? Extreme temperatures increase your risk of injury.

5. AWKWARD POSTURE Is my body in an uncomfortable position to do this? Awkward postures increase your risk of injury.

If you answer YES to any of these questions, use caution and change the task or the environment to prevent injury.

5 LIFT SMART AND LIFT SAFE QUESTIONS. 1. Do I have HELP? Use mechanical (hoists, lift trucks, dollies, wheelbarrows) OR another person to help lift. 2. Can I divide the load? If yes, make the load smaller and lighter. 3. Is the load “free” to move? Clear the load of anything that makes it dif- ficult to move. 4. Is my path clear? Ensure there is nothing to stumble over. 5. Have I chosen the best body posture to lift with? No awkward posture to lift. 6. Have I chosen the best grip to hold the load with? Hold securely. 7. Am I warmed up? Do a few stretches first. 8. Do I stand close to the load and keep it close to my body? 9. Am I facing the way I go? Avoid twisting. 10. Is my stance wide? Reduce risk of falling. 11. Did I get a good grip on the load? Lift only when you have a good grip. 12. Are my arms close to my body? Avoid arms swinging away from your body. 13. Have I tightened my abdominal muscles? Use your core. 14. Did I tuck my chin into my chest? Keep your neck safe. 15. Can I start the lift with my body? Lift with bigger muscles instead of smaller one.

6 TWEET NOW Lift Smart? Lift Safe!

PUSH, PULL, LIFT or CARRY? Before moving a heavy load, evaluate whether you should PUSH, PULL, LIFT or CARRY the load

Did you know that pulling objects is easier than carrying them?

And pushing is less demanding than pulling?

So first always choose to PUSH

If you can’t push, then PULL

If you can’t pull, then LIFT AND TRANSPORT

If you can’t lift and transport, then and only then LIFT AND CARRY as a last resort SAFTETY TIP: Remember, you can carry less than you can lift!

7 5 TEAM WORK Questions for lifting together.

Answer, “YES!” to the following questions for good teamwork and to lift smart and lift safe.

1. Are we about the same height? 2. Do we have about the same strength? 3. Did we pick a leader? Who is in charge of the lift? 4. Have we chosen our words: “lift”, “walk”, “stop”, “down”, OR 1,2,3 lift…? 5. Have we practiced our team work and know how to work together?

This document is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice of a health care professional.

8 Occupational Therapy Help for Your Workers and Employees.

Humans have an amazing ability to adapt to the situation they are in, even if it’s not a safe environment.

Stay in a work environment long enough and it’s natural to stop seeing the threats to your health, the poor work practices, the “jerry rigging” that goes on to stay productive.

In my 20+ years as an Occupational Therapist, I’m constantly amazed at how long someone will work in pain, before they can’t work anymore. Many people work in pain, not knowing there are easy, simple, inexpensive solutions to resolving their pain.

Having your workplace environment assessed by one of the private practice Occupational Therapists from TOTAL ABILITY™ can be one of the highest return investments you make all year. Will you take the ounce of prevention or pay for the pound of cure? Many injuries can be prevented by Occupational Therapy in the workplace through training and education, being proactive and working safely.

Call me at 506.847.0677 or toll-free 1.877.784.5353. My team of Occupational Therapists and I provide mobile, bilingual, private practice Occupational Therapy Ergonomic Workstation Assessments in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, New Brunswick.

Christel K.A. Seeberger BSc.O.T., OT(c), OTR., OTReg.(NB), OTReg.(PE) Occupational Therapist

9 About The Author

As founder and president of TOTAL ABILITY™, Christel K. A. Seeberger, BSc.O.T., OT(c), OTR, OTReg.(NB), OTReg. (PE), leads her team of occupational therapists to provide mobile, bilingual, private practice occupational occupational therapy to children, adults and seniors at home, school and work in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Christel’s personal mission is to bring occupational therapy to the world and so she launched TOTAL ABILITY Solutions to share Occupational Therapy eBooks with resources, activities and advice for parents, teachers, caregivers and therapists.

Christel has practiced Occupational Therapy in Québec, Maine, Florida and New Brunswick with clients of all ages in all settings: home, school, work, clinic, hospital, daycare, summer camp, special care home and nursing home for over 20 years.

Christel is registered to practice occupational therapy in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Canada and certified to practice in the United States.

Visit www.totalability.ca and www.totalabilitysolutions.com for more occupational therapy help.