Keep your employees safe – Help Prevent Ergonomic Injuries in the workplace

Ergonomic injuries (also known as musculoskeletal disorders) often result from activities that seem rather harmless or routine.  Sitting in an uncomfortable chair for too long or not taking enough breaks can have long term effects on the body. Overexertion and repetitive motion are the primary causes of these injuries.  For those who work in an environment where heavy lifting, bending, pushing and pulling heavy loads, or standing for long periods of time is the norm, ergonomic injuries are more common.

Work-related ergonomic injuries are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work time.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ergonomic injuries account for approximately one-third of all work-related injuries and illnesses. OSHA cited that musculoskeletal disorders or ergonomic injuries have direct costs of between $15 to $20 billion per year, with total annual costs reaching $45 to $54 billion and that $1 of every $3 spent on workers’ compensation stems from insufficient ergonomic protection.

Workers also often pay for these injuries through lost wages, suffering, and decreased quality of life, sometimes for an extended amount of time. Learning how to prevent these injuries is important for businesses to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their employees.

At supplyFORCE, our network of local member distributors is here to support your workplace safety needs.   With dedicated safety specialists and programs, we can assist you with providing expert guidance on products, training, consulting services, and technology. 

To learn more about supplyFORCE and how our member network assists in preventing workplace injuries, please contact Mike Deerwester.