The health of employees plays a crucial role in a business’s success and can significantly disrupt their personal lives. Poor health may lower employee productivity, increase expenses through sick pay and temporary staffing, and negatively impact team morale and motivation.
For this reason, employers need to recognize the importance of supporting employee health. Companies can foster overall employee well-being across the organization by adopting efficient procedures, creating a safe and positive workplace environment, and offering health and wellness benefits to their staff. Here are common employee health issues in the workplace.
Handling, lifting, or carrying tasks are the second most common cause of non-fatal injuries. These activities, which include:
• Physically lifting
• Lowering
• Pulling
• Pushing
• Carrying
All these lead to serious injuries if not done properly. Such incidents often occur when managing heavy objects or transferring patients in healthcare environments.
However, regular and effective training can significantly lower the risk of these injuries. Preventative measures like using machinery to lift objects, reducing load sizes, and training employees to minimize twisting, stooping, and reaching can help prevent such accidents.
Cancer’s impact extends beyond those diagnosed, affecting their family and friends, especially those who take on caregiving roles during treatment and recovery. Notably, half of the 1.5 million cancer carers are employed, balancing their work responsibilities with providing care. A lung cancer law firm can help patients and their families navigate the challenges of cancer in the workplace.
Proper office lighting plays a crucial role in today’s work environments, not just from overhead fixtures but also from light emitted by computer screens. Just as humidity influences air quality, lighting impacts both the physical and mental aspects of job performance.
Insufficient lighting forces employees to strain their eyes, overworking the eye muscles, while excessive lighting over time can increase the risk of long-term vision problems. By ensuring proper lighting, you can reduce daily eye strain and significantly lower the chances of chronic vision issues. To minimize eye strain and prevent lighting-related health problems, consider these steps:
• Wear suitable eyewear.
• Reduce screen time when possible.
• Take regular breaks to rest your eyes.
• Maintain clean air quality in the workplace.
• Avoid direct sunlight on computer screens near windows.
Having more access to natural light, properly distributing office lighting, eliminating glare, and fixing flickering lights promptly can all help protect eye health and make the workplace more comfortable. While offices are required to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lighting standards, it ultimately falls on employers to ensure these standards are enforced.
Musculoskeletal conditions can lead to various symptoms. These include stiffness, restricted movement, and disability. Employers can help prevent workplace musculoskeletal injuries and support employees with MSK conditions by:
• Conducting regular risk assessments
• Ensuring sufficient staffing levels
• Tailoring the work environment and equipment to individual needs
• Sharing resources and guidance on MSK conditions
• Encouraging frequent movement and physical activity
• Offering access to physical and occupational therapy services
Symptoms can vary widely, ranging from sneezing and itchy eyes to skin reactions and severe vomiting. For many, the possibility of life-threatening reactions creates significant anxiety. Employers can play a key role in supporting individuals with allergies by introducing clear allergy policies, educating staff about allergen restrictions, ensuring rigorous cleanliness, and offering reasonable accommodations like dedicated desks or storage areas.
Symptoms of long-term workplace illnesses may take years to surface, leading employers and insurance companies to frequently dispute that the illness stems from workplace conditions. This makes it even more crucial to have a skilled workers’ compensation attorney advocating for you.
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