Health and Safety - Common workplace medical complaints
When working in an office environment, some people may not think about health and safety issues. Health and safety should be a concern of everyone, even if you don’t work in a hazardous environment. So what are the common health and safety issues in an office workplace?
Back pain is a common complaint for many people, and most of the time it is nothing serious. Many people are able to treat back pain themselves without seeing their doctor. However, poor posture can contribute or even cause back pain. This is due to a poorly designed work station. Your health and safety manager should ensure that all office personnel have an ergonomically correct work station for all their employees. If you are having chronic back pain and you think your workstation is a contributing factor, talk to your boss or the Health and Safety manager of your company to find out what adjustments can be made. It may be as simple as purchasing a new chair or adjusting your keyboard.
Another common health and safety issue in the office is carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common source of hand numbness and pain. It is caused by increased pressure on a nerve entering the hand through the confined space of the carpal tunnel. Symptoms usually begin gradually and include numbness, tingling and pain in the hand. The thumb side of the hand is usually most involved. Symptoms at night are common and may awaken you from sleep. During the day symptoms frequently occur while holding a phone, reading or driving. Symptoms may occur at any time. Sometimes strange feelings and pain will travel up the arm. Initially symptoms come and go, but over time they may become constant. A feeling of clumsiness or weakness can make delicate motions like buttoning buttons difficult and may cause you to drop things. If the condition is very severe, muscles in the palm may become visibly wasted. If you do certain tasks repeatedly, such as typing, you may experience symptoms over time. Speak to the health and safety manager at your workplace if you have concerns that you are developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Work-related stress is a major cause of occupational health and safety issues. Stress can lead to increased physical illnesses, back pain, recurrent headaches and other symptoms. This means you may be missing more work days due to illness, and it may affect your performance while on the job. Ongoing stress is dangerous because it can lead to more serious conditions such as high blood pressure and heart attack. If you feel you are putting in a lot of extra hours, have an excessive workload, or if you are having problems with a fellow employee, talk to your boss. They may be able to make some changes to help alleviate your stress. Your company’s health and safety manager may be able to make some recommendations and provide you with information on what you can do to alleviate the stress as well.
Be aware of the health and safety issues you at your workplace and do what you can to prevent illness and injury.