In total, 33% of workplace injuries and safety accidents are musculoskeletal injuries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Management should ignore these statistics at their own risk. If safety managers wish to reduce injuries and incidents in the workplace, these physical needs must be addressed. 70% of those of accidents come from workers who are overly fatigued and not resting properly between shifts. Worker fatigue is an extreme state of mental and physical exhaustion which reduces alertness and response time. Accidents that are preventable can occur under these extreme circumstances and minor incidents can become major safety disasters for both the individual worker and safety organization as a whole. What is your company doing to prevent these kinds of safety accidents from occurring? Are you addressing worker fatigue in your safety culture?

It takes a combo of observation, technology and training workers on the correct ways to physically move their bodies as the key to reducing sprains, strains and other injuries associated with physical fatigue. Tips and tricks include rounding your back when bending over, so as not to aggravate the tiny muscles that move the weight in your back. When an industrial worker keeps their back flat, they brace and hinge the hips, causing undue stress and can lead to injury. Aside from the physical toll, proper lifting can reduce workplace injury and increase productivity. Think about it, injured employees must miss work and productivity decreases.

Giving team members the tools and wherewithal to cope with physical fatigue can assist employees with managing workplace fatigue as they become physically tired throughout their shifts. The goal is for workers to understand how to move in the strongest positions.

As a worker becomes tired during a repetitive task, the risk factor for injuries escalates. The root cause of the musculoskeletal injuries is that many employees aren't cognizant of the way their body movement changes as fatigue sets in.

With a software platform, a common language can be broadcast throughout an entire company. Workers can discuss proper movement techniques that are demonstrated in formal training videos and can provide a greater amount of accountability across all levels of the organization. Mistakes happen when workers are fatigued.

A strong safety culture reinforces practices and values across an entire company. Consistent opportunities and hands-on practice accompanied by emerging safety technology is essential to building processes that will prevent injuries. Strong safety culture does not happen overnight. It takes the dedication of all management and the buy-in from workers. Workers must feel respected, rested, and heard. Their physical safety must equal the desired productivity.

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Stefanie Valentic EHS Today | Aug 12, 2019 - Workplace fatigue isn’t just mental. The physical aspects can lead to a myriad of ergonomic injuries associated with excessive lifting, carrying and repetitive movement.

Musculoskeletal injuries account for 33% of all workplace injury cases, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ignoring the risk factors that play into these injuries can lead to a fatigued workforce more prone to injury along with a loss of productivity.

A combination of observation, technology and training workers on the correct ways to move their bodies is the key to reducing sprains, strains and other injuries associated with physical fatigue, says John Post, Worklete co-founder and vice president of product.

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