What comes to mind when a work related injury topic comes up? Well, chances are that you think of equipment and accident related injury. Very few people spare thoughts on harsh working conditions that are so common they have turned into a norm. Injury and conditions related to standing on the job for long hours falls under this category.
What does it Mean to ‘Stand on the Job’
This term applies to people who spend the better part of their workday on their feet. This could be restaurant servers, assembly line workers, bank tellers and cashiers. While it might not seem to be an immediate bother if you get used, research has shown that standing too much has diverse health repercussions.
Some of the most common conditions that come with standing on the job include
- Lower back pain
- Inflamed plantar fasciitis leading to heel and lower foot pain
- Swollen and painful legs
- Higher chances of hip or knee arthritis
- All the side effects of poor body posture
- Varicose veins
The list goes on and on. The effects will be more severe if you stand for longer hours and do nothing to lessen the brunt of this continued posture. Here are some simple things that will help you prevent this kind of work related injury.
Wear the Right Shoes
Your feet play an integral role in supporting your body when standing or walking. Choosing padded flat shoes will help you get the perfect posture and put less stress on your foot and arch muscles. Women must avoid wearing ‘heels’ when working under such conditions.
Adjustable Chairs and Working Services
An adjustable chair and working surface will give you the opportunity to sit down as much as you can as you work. This will take some of the strain off your feet hence reducing the negative impacts of standing too much while at work.
If you have no option but to stand, you should consider shifting pressure from one foot to another every now and then. Work with one foot slightly raised and alternate the raised foot after a minute or so. This combined with a healthy will prevent work related injury.
It is impossible to eradicating work related injury. At times, it is the employer’s responsibility to make things bearable. If your employer fails, you will need a work place injury attorney to help you get a fair settlement.
