Two Safety Measures Employers Can Take to Decrease Back Injuries to Workers in Florida

Every year lower back pain affects over one million workers in this nation. Injuries to the back are one of the most common work-related injuries employees sustain, and accounts for a large amount of lost work days, as an estimated 450,000 people miss at least one day of work due to back injuries each year.

Although not every back injury at work in Florida can be prevented, some can be lessened. When employers start taking responsibility to implement safe work conditions and ergonomic programs for their employers, injuries dramatically decrease.

There are a number of ways that employers can help to reduce back injuries to their employees including: developing safety training, implementing correct ways to lift, and using automated equipment. Although there are many things that employers can do to help their workers reduce back pain and back injuries, there are two safety measures that have drastically helped workers, which include:

1. Implementation of back belts
2. Improved ergonomic work environments and programs

Because many work environments in Florida and throughout the U.S. have not been updated to be ergonomically correct, jobs that require the same movements and repetition can cause low-back injuries such as: soft tissue injuries, ligament injuries, tendon injuries, disc herniation, and spinal stenosis.

A back injury can be a disabling type of occupational trauma, and are especially common in industries that require physical labor. When a job requires heavy lifting, sudden movements, or physical exertion, back injuries can occur in unsafe work environments.

If you have been injured in a South Florida work accident, please call David Benenfeld, a skilled Fort Lauderdale workers' compensation attorney at 866-9 HELP NOW or 866-943-5766 for your free consultation. Your employer may be liable for your injuries and damages.

Also, learn about your rights as an injured worker under Florida law by ordering your FREE book, courtesy of attorney David Benenfeld: Hurt on the Job in Florida - What are my Rights?