Take a look at your organization’s safety statistics and you will probably find that strains and sprains are at the top of the list of injuries. If we are serious about protecting our people, let’s make every effort to help them be safe.

Will Flower

 

It is time to mount a full-scale effort to eliminate the #1 injury in our industry—strains and sprains. Strains and sprains can result in a sore back, pain in the knee, stiff shoulder, tender wrist, etc. Although such injuries may seem minor, the reality is that strains and sprains have a negative impact on productivity, attendance, work force retention and workers’ compensation costs.

Pretty much everything we do every day has the potential to cause a strain or sprain—excessive pushing or pulling a heavy container, carrying an overloaded garbage can and climbing in or out of trucks. Other contributing factors that increase the risk of injury include awkward posture while lifting, forceful exertions, lifting with the wrong muscle group, repetitive motions and vibration. Twists and falls is another potential cause of strains and sprains.

 

Let’s Face the Facts

Working in the waste and recycling industry is hard. It is physically demanding work. The working conditions change constantly and work is conducted in all weather conditions—sun, rain, snow, cold and heat. Employees walk on a variety of surfaces that can be slippery, muddy and uneven. Workers climb in and out of trucks and equipment all day long. To be safe, workers must exercise caution every second of each and every day.

 

An injury from a strain or sprain is serious.  Injuries can occur suddenly or over long periods of time. And if left untreated, a strain or sprain can get more serious from added physical labor.

 

Avoiding Strains and Sprains

Prevention is the best medicine and it is possible to eliminate sprains and strains. To do so, a comprehensive approach is necessary, which should include education, pre-work stretching, risk awareness and ongoing coaching. Employees should be informed of the benefits associated with pre-work stretching.  Before doing any physically demanding activity, like carrying garbage cans, pushing a container or stepping into or out of truck, it is important to stretch your major muscle groups. Stretching helps warm up and loosen muscles, ligaments and joints in the body.

 

Additionally, employees need to be frequently reminded of safe lifting techniques and the importance of lifting with the legs while avoiding bending and twisting. Even routine events, like getting into and out of vehicles should be reviewed to make sure drivers, equipment operators, helpers and mechanics are using three-points of contact as they climb in and out of a truck or piece of equipment.

 

Managers should also review the workplace to look for potential risks that can be eliminated with better engineering controls.  Providing employees with proper safety training, education, coaching, encouragement and requiring the use of personal protective equipment are also helpful.

 

Focus on Job Specific Risks

The risk of strains and sprains at a recycling center is very different from the risk on a residential route. That is why training and risk reduction strategies should be job-specific. Inside a recycling center, managers need to focus on ergonomics, especially for employees who conduct repetitive motion throughout the day. Engineering controls are important when it comes to minimizing sprains and strains and other ergonomic injuries.

 

Even if you teach your workers to avoid bending, twisting and other awkward body postures, they still might be at risk of injury if they are using poorly designed equipment and tools.

 

Let’s Protect Our People

Take a look at your organization’s safety statistics and you will probably find that strains and sprains are at the top of the list of injuries. If your safety manager’s response is, “Strains and sprains are just part of the job,” it is time to find a new safety manager. Sprains and strains, like most injuries, can be avoided. If we are serious about protecting our people, let’s make every effort to help them be safe. Remember, safety is an investment that pays big dividends.

 

Winter is coming … next month’s safety tip will focus the need for caution on snow and ice. 

 

Will Flower is the Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs at Winters Bros. Waste Systems (Westbury, NY). Will has 32 years of experience in the area of solid waste management and environmental protection. He has held operational and executive leadership positions at the Director’s Office of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services. Inc. and Green Stream Recycling. 

 

Share your safety tip. Submit your suggestions to Will Flower at [email protected]

 

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