Employee Injury Prevention Key Terms

Knowing employee injury prevention terminology helps one provide a safe work environment

Employee injury prevention is one item that an organization should never overlook under any circumstance. The development and implementation of an employee injury prevention plan is one way an organization can ensure the safety and well-being of its employees. Strict adherence to the federally mandated Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will also help prevent injury in the workplace. Other steps an organization can take is to educate employees on ways to prevent musculoskeletal injuries, identifying ergonomic risk factors and incorporating Psychocalisthenics into the workday.

 

Employee injury prevention plan

An employee injury prevention plan not only states the organization's safety policy, but also designates a Safety Coordinator who is responsible for organizing safety-training sessions; ensuring fellow employees are following safety procedures; verifying first aid kits are readily available and stocked should an emergency occur; and posting signs required by state and federal safety guidelines.
Try: Refer to SafetyInfo for guidelines on completing an Employee Injury Prevention Plan.

OSHA Regulations

The Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 29 Part 1910 addresses Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards. Safety regulations addressed include those regarding the use of equipment, noise, materials handling and storage, use of personal protection for the eyes and other areas of the body and emergency plans.
Try: Refer to the Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 29 Part 1910 for more information regarding OSHA safety standards.

Workplace emergency preparedness kits

Natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes and tornadoes and power outages can occur at any time, sometimes without warning. Have your organization work with employees in preparing for such an event by creating emergency preparedness kits that include non-perishable food, water, flashlights, radio, batteries and first aid supplies such as bandages, gauze pads, hand sanitizers, ointments and tweezers for employees. Other items that may be of benefit to employees include paper plates, cups, manual can openers and personal hygiene items.
Try: Reference the Red Cross website to learn more about workplace emergency preparedness kits.

Musculoskeletal injuries

Musculoskeletal injuries generally involve damage to bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves. Employees whose job duties involve lifting, typing and repetitive movements are subject to musculoskeletal injuries that result in conditions such as carpal tunnel and bursitis. Training employees on correct lifting and carrying procedures and purchasing ergonomic furniture are some preventative steps an organization can take to prevent musculoskeletal injuries to employees.
Try: Refer to Merck’s Online Medical Library for more information on musculoskeletal injuries.

Ergonomic risk factors

Ergonomic risk factors are behaviors of individuals when performing job duties that may lead to injury. Examples of such behaviors include hunched shoulders when talking on the phone, prolonged keying and prolonged sitting. Organizations can help prevent injury by training employees on ergonomics and how they can modify their work processes, purchasing headsets for individuals to use when talking on the phone, assigning a variety of job duties to reduce prolonged keying and ensuring employees have ergonomically designed chairs as well as encouraging walk breaks.
Try: Ergoweb outlines steps to identify ergonomic risk factors as well as measures an organization can take to protect employees.

Psychocalisthenics

Psychocalisthenics is an exercise program utilized by organizations that consists of 23 movement and breathing exercises that take 15 minutes to perform and target all muscle groups and in turn energize individuals, improve their health, mental clarity, emotional balance and happiness and agility.
Try: Learn more about Psychocalisthenics by visiting Oscar Ichazo’s website. Refer to the Napa Valley Register to learn how Psychocalisthenics benefitted Wine Service Co-Op and its employees.

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