National Safety Month Focuses On Florida’s Workplace Safety & Preventing Overexertion
The National Safety Council (NSC) has named the month of June “National Safety Month.” For years, the NSC has focused on different weekly safety themes for the month of June, in order to bring attention to issues that cause safety risks. They urge businesses, organizations, cities, individuals and communities to participate in National Safety Month in order to promote safety in the U.S.
The NSC has named the safety theme for the week of June 5 – 11 “Preventing Overexertion“. This workplace safety week focuses on how to prevent overexertion injuries from occurring on-the-job in Florida.
Overexertion actually accounts for approximately 3.3 million emergency room visits each year, and is the third highest cause of unintentional injuries in this nation alone. Although, it can be an unintentional injury, there are steps to take to prevent overexertion.
Overexertion typically injures a worker’s lower back caused from sprains or strains.Florida overexertion injuries occur from certain movements, such as:
- Pulling
- Pushing
- Lifting
- Carrying
- Turning
- Lowering
- Holding
When your job involves any of these movements, you could suffer an overexertion injury at your workplace.
Preventing Overexertion Injuries
If your job requires that you lift or carry items, do so safely. Limit the amount of weight that you lift or carry, use a back brace or carrying device to help you take the strain off your back, and try to work in a neutral position.
If your job requires you to work in an awkward position, speak up.Change your position or ask for your workspace to be ergonomically retrofitted.Also, make sure your body is positioned in a way so that it is square to your work.
If you are injured at work in Florida, you may be entitled to benefits under Florida workers’ compensation laws or filing a lawsuit may benefit your recovery more. For more information about your specific case, you should talk to a skilled work accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale for more information.
Find out more about your legal rights by calling a workers’ compensation attorney in South Florida at the Law Office of David Benenfeld.You can contact our office at 954-677-0155 to schedule a free, no obligation legal consultation.
