Industrial facilities such as warehouses, factories, construction sites and more are inherently fast-paced and unpredictable in nature. There’s a lot going on and a lot that needs to be done, and far too often this results in employees being more incentivized to get something done fast than to get something done right. Swamped by personnel objectives, deadlines, quotas and everything daily duties encompass, one’s personal safety can fall to the wayside. From there, risk of injury skyrockets. Something as simple as awkwardly lifting a heavy object, twisting the spine, lifting from the ground or holding an item overhead can cause a strain in the lower back. These injuries, created by a one-time damage to a muscle, tendon, or ligament, can be career-ending for workers with physically demanding jobs.

Additionally, chronic strains, caused by repetitive movements that gradually overstretch or tear a muscle, are common back injuries in industrial workplaces. They may seem insignificant at first, but something as simple as uncomfortable repetitive movements, high-intensity activities for long periods of time without rest, and/or poor posture or activities that involve working in an awkward position lead to the overuse of muscles and tendons in the upper body.

This overuse creates repetitive strain injuries, which can be hard to notice at first, but can develop severely, causing swelling in the affected area or creating constant, longer periods of pain if they remain untreated. These should always be taken seriously. Dangerous movements and careless safety practices can be a critical hit to an industrial facility. Not only does it present an extremely real threat to the livelihood of every employee who uses their body for a living, but work-related injuries that send employees home are detrimental to the productivity of an operation.