Guide For Staying Healthy On The Job for Electricians
Electricians are prone to injuries to their backs, knees, fingers and hands. The kind of work that they do makes them vulnerable in these parts of the body and they can develop aches and discomfort there. Some of the common causes are extreme temperatures, static postures for long stretches, working with vibrating tools, contact with rough surfaces, frequent movements like twisting, bending, stretching and the use of muscle power to carry out many tasks.
A regular exercise routine is advised for electricians. Stretching exercises particularly are advisable before starting a task to prevent physical stress and to keep the body and joints agile and flexible. If, while working you develop some ache or stiffness, you should stop and change the posture or the way you hold your tools. Some common complaints reported by electricians are fatigue, weakness, loss of energy, swelling, numbness, tingling and aching or burning pain. The areas affected are usually the back, arms, shoulders, knees, hands, fingers and neck.
If you experience any of the above complaints, you must immediately inform your supervisor. If there is a company injury policy, follow the action listed out there. You may have to find out why the problem has occurred and take remedial steps like changing the way you do things, your posture etc. If you ignore the signals, the problems could get much worse and may keep you from work itself.
There are safe work practices laid down that an electrician should scrupulously follow. Frequent use of the hands instead of tools is to be avoided. Hand and power tools are provided to be used. Holding the tools close to your body will reduce fatigue and make work simpler. Incorrect methods of lifting, shifting and shoving heavy loads can cause injury to the back. The use of mechanical tools and taking the help of mates can reduce the possibility of such injuries. Following the correct method to lift, shift and shove heavy items can also help.
The nature of the job of an electrician being what it is, he is constantly forced to assume different postures, bend forward and backward causing fatigue. It is therefore essential that you maintain correct posture, use the appropriate tools of as light a weight as possible. Wear a tool belt so that everything needed is easily accessible. Wear gloves, kneepads and goggles to protect the eyes. Find tools that fit comfortably in your hands and give you a good grip. Keep the work area clean and free of unwanted stuff to prevent tripping and falling. Keep moving the body frequently to avoid getting stuck in one position for too long.
Following the above guidelines will help you avoid occupational problems normally faced by electricians.