Overexertion

An overexertion injury generally fall into two categories (sprains and strains) and occurs when a person works beyond his or her physical capacity or when the physical forces required to perform a task exceed the tolerances of the body’s soft tissues. Such factors as poor physical condition, aging and its related loss of body flexibility, and obesity affect these tolerances.

According to Mulhern & Anderson, Overexertion injuries resulting in shoulder and back injuries are the leading musculoskeletal disorder complaint, the most expensive and leading cause of days missed from work (Mulhern & Anderson, Ph.D., CPE, 2015). There are a number of ways to help reduce the risk of overexertion injuries:

1. Identify the tasks your employees perform that could result in shoulder, back or other overexertion-related injuries and find ways to modify the environment or change how the task will be complete to avoid strain or sprain.
2. Provide lifting devices to assist the employee. This could include the use of dollies, forklifts hand trucks, etc.
3. Restrict the lifting load to a minimum. Ensure that employee is using devices if items are above recommended manual lifting amount.
4. Be sure to explain to the employee the requirements of the job so that there are no surprises for the employee or the employer.
5. Ensure that employees feel safe to report any and all work related injuries upfront and in a timely manner.