2. Awkward Grips & Posture
Lifting an awkwardly shaped or positioned object turns a worker’s back into a ticking time bomb.
Trying to hold onto tools or other objects with awkward grips is not only exhausting but also can lead to hand and joint injuries. And contorting your body awkwardly to reach something or apply force is a recipe for various injuries.
Workers should use tools that allow them to hold their wrists straight. Jigs and tooling fixtures are a must for minimizing awkward posture.
3. Repetitive Tasks
Construction and industrial workers often have to perform the same lift over and over … and over.
When you have to perform a task hundreds or thousands of times, it can cause excessive wear and tear on your joints. It sounds silly, but even the most basic movements, like unpacking fasteners every day, can cause repetitive stress injuries.
Construction work is especially hand-intensive. The human hand is an impressive piece of engineering, but all those little muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints can only hold up to so much repetitive use. Your crew should take advantage of grips and gloves whenever possible to protect their hands during intensive work.
4. Wrong Tools; Wrong Training
Home mechanics may need to improvise with the tools at hand, but professional construction sites should have the right tools for the job at all times. Otherwise, workers are apt to needlessly hurt themselves.
A construction worker is more likely to use the right tool — and the right way — with proper training. Don’t leave it up to the employee to figure out.
5. Using Poorly Maintained Tools
Most tools require some level of maintenance, even if it’s just applying some grease once in a while.
If tools aren’t maintained, they’re at risk of causing another senseless injury. Busy or not, your team needs to stick to a scheduled maintenance plan for tools and equipment.
6. Hard Surfaces
Working on your knees on concrete or other hard surfaces becomes soul-crushing after a while. Done for yours, it can destroy your health, too.
Workers should wear protective gear like kneepads if they have to kneel. If you can swing it, bring the work up to their level with an ergonomic power lift or work table.
Best for Both Sides
Proper ergonomics in construction is a two-way avenue. By giving employees the right equipment, and with them following best practices, both sides benefit. The crew will stay happy and productive, and you’ll keep your best employees on the job longer while avoiding worker’s comp claims.
To learn more about ergonomic solutions for the construction industry, ask an engineer your question below:
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(Editors Note: This blog was originally published in January 2020 and was updated in October 2021 to reflect updated information)
Topics:
Applications,
Ergonomics,
Industrial,
Safety