Identifying and Preventing Overexertion Injuries

In a previous post, we covered the 10 most common injuries in the workplace, and topping this list is 'overexertion.' Each year, thousands of workers suffer injury as a result of overexertion. Whether it's in a factory line, construction site, or even an office, this type of injury is a growing problem that business owners need to be aware of. Here, we're going to take a closer look at overexertion injuries, revealing risk factors, preventive measures and statistics.

What Are Overexertion Injuries?

Just as the name suggests, an overexertion injury is the result of a worker physically pushing themselves beyond their body's capacity. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), defines overexertion as, "a person works beyond his or her physical capacity or, more specifically, when the physical forces required to perform a task exceed the tolerances of the body’s soft tissues."

How Common Are Overexertion Injuries?

Overexertion injuries are the single most common type of work-related injury. Each year, it's estimated that over 3 million workers suffer from an overexertion injury, translating into 1 injury for every 100 workers. This is a shockingly high number that costs businesses billions of dollars annually from worker's compensation, lower productivity, broken equipment and reduced employee morale.

Overexertion Warning Signs:

• Dizziness or light-headed
• Headaches
• Elevated blood pressure
• Sore and/or weak muscles
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Limited mobility (due to pulled muscles)

How To Prevent Overexertion Injuries In The Workplace

Companies can take steps to prevent overexertion injuries in the workplace. For starters, offering a free health and wellness program will provide employees with an outlet for voicing their health concerns. More and more companies are implementing health and wellness programs into their workplace. It's a simple way to encourage better health while reducing the risk of injury.

Another preventive measure for reducing the chance of overexertion injuries is to provide workers with several breaks throughout the shift. Forcing employees to work for long, drawn-out shifts of 10 or more hours without a break is both illegal (laws vary depending on state) and increases the risk of an overexertion injury. Even if it's just a short 5-minute break, this will give your employees a chance to rest and relax, which in turn reduces the chance of injury.

An overexertion injury occurs when a person works beyond his or her physical capacity or, more specifically, when the physical forces required to perform a task exceed the tolerances of the body’s soft tissues.