Amazon Is Working On New Methods To Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries are incredibly common in warehouses and other manufacturing jobs, and Amazon is taking notice. The giant corporation reported that around 40% of all work-related injuries across the company are musculoskeletal injuries, and they are doing everything possible to prevent these injuries. First and foremost, you want every employee to feel safe and secure on the job, but these types of injuries can also prove costly with industrial workers’ compensation settlements and the lost productivity from injured workers. Below, you can learn some of the things Amazon is working on to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
What are Musculoskeletal Injuries?
Musculoskeletal injuries, also known as MSDs or “ergonomics injuries”, are the name given to ailments, strains, and injuries caused by repeatedly putting your body into awkward positions or overexerting yourself on the job. Some of the most common examples of MSDs are tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Given the repetitive motions that are inherent to working in a warehouse or other manufacturing environment, it is clear to see why MSDs are such a problem in the industry.
Coach Your Staff on How to Move Properly
While repetitive motions are often the cause of MSDs, you can also injure yourself by not using proper form or mechanics when performing tasks. That is why Amazon and other manufacturing warehouses are spending time and money on training for all employees. That way, each employee is well-versed in the best way to approach each and every task they complete on a daily basis.
Rotate Jobs to Prevent Overuse and Repetition
Traditionally, a warehouse has workers completing the same task, day after day. Amazon is looking into changing this by having employees rotate to several different stations in order to complete a wide variety of tasks each and every day. That way, employees will not be forced to repeat the same task over and over for weeks at a time. The hope is that by diversifying the tasks each employee is given, you reduce the possibility of repetitive stress leading to MSDs.
Work With a Partner for Heavy Lifting
This should be a given, but if you have some heavy lifting to do, make sure you have a partner! Many MSDs come from overexertion, so make sure you know your limitations and ask for help. Even if you are strong enough to carry the item on your own, it is best practice to ask someone for help.
Don’t Work Too Fast
Research has shown that asking employees to complete tasks in a warehouse faster means sacrificing form and safety. Therefore, try to communicate to your staff that they should not sacrifice form and safety for faster results. This can be a difficult message to communicate since you still want them to work as fast as possible, but try to find a nice middle ground between too fast and too slow.
Workers’ Compensation for Musculoskeletal Injuries in San Diego
If you suffer a musculoskeletal injury while working in a warehouse in San Diego, contact Gerald Brody and Associates today. Even if your company adheres to all of the above steps to try to keep you safe, you are still likely to be eligible for compensation. Our team of workers’ compensation attornies will do everything they can to make sure you get the compensation you deserve while you rest and recover from your injury.
To learn more about MSDs or manufacturing workers’ compensation claims, contact Gerald Brody and Associates in San Diego today by calling (619) 528-9800.