Life is busy, that’s a given but that doesn’t mean failing to make your health a priority, or at least, it shouldn’t do. Whatever industry you work in, whether you work for a large corporation, a small startup or run a business of your own, it’s crucial that you take health and safety seriously.
Although there are certain health and safety concerns that only impact specific industries and areas within them, there are also health and safety issues that impact almost every industry. That’s why it’s so important that every person within any given company is aware of them.
Bearing that in mind, below is a guide to the health and safety concerns that every person within any company should be aware of, and reasons why this is so crucial.
Back and neck problems
Studies show that people who work in office environments and are sitting for 80% of the day are three times as likely to suffer from back and neck problems as a result. Of course, having an ergonomic desk chair helps – this is something that every employer should provide for their employees. However, it’s not always enough, and these problems can still develop, causing serious pain and discomfort.
The good news is that there’s an answer: moving more. The more you move, the better for your spinal health. Every half an hour or so, stand up and have a walk around. If you have a private office or some outdoor space, you could also opt to practice yoga or pilates in these mini breaks, to help stretch out various areas of your body, including your back and neck. To learn more about preventing back and neck problems, resources like https://www.spine-health.com/blog/6-easy-tips-reduce-back-and-neck-pain-work can be useful.
Eye injuries
Eye injuries can happen in seconds and can have life-altering consequences, which is why taking them seriously is so important.
If you work in an area where there are chemicals being used, lasers or radiation, or you work with tools that could cause wood or metal to fly off and hit you in the eye, it’s vital that you wear eye protection. Glasses won’t cut it, you need to ensure that you have the exact type of protection that’s been designed for the task at hand. For instance, for laser or radiation-based work, these glasses from https://www.kempermedical.com/product-category/radiation-laser-glassworking-safety-glasses/ are ideal.
For people who work on computers, eye strain can be a serious problem. Did you know that studies have shown that people who work on computers are twice as likely to need glasses? That’s why it’s so important to take regular breaks at 20-minute intervals throughout the day while using the computer, to give your eyes the rest that they need.
Mental health problems
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many business owners are not taking mental health as seriously as physical health. Over the past few years, there has been a serious increase in the number of mental health problems in the workplace, which is what makes mental health support more crucial than ever.
Studies have shown that not enjoying what you do for work can have a serious impact on your mental health, even going as far as increasing your chances of developing depression and anxiety. That’s why so many employers are doing their utmost to ensure that the working environment on offer is a happy one, and that should an employee need to talk, there is support in place.
The fact is that your health and wellbeing is ultimately your responsibility, so when it comes to your workplace health and safety, you need to be clued up on what’s what, even if you’re only an employee.
