Injury Prevention Beats Compensation
Sprains
or strains of joints or adjacent muscles now account
for more than 50 per cent of new workers compensation
cases recorded by the National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission.
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Heavy duty Kleensweep SpongeCote from
GMC provides a buoyant, resilient surface to reduce
fatigue. |
The total
of such injuries now exceeds 61,000, according to the latest
NOHSC figures - and is likely to rise again as Australia's
workforce ages and a less nimble and resilient workforce
becomes more prone to falls, slips and trips, and plain wear
and tear on older bodies.
" Just the simple act of standing eight hours every day for years can be
hazardous to workers health. It will certainly take its toll on your body: varicose
veins, lower back pain, leg pain, fallen arches are just a few of the most common
ailments," says Michael Siegle of The General Mat Company (GMC).
" Ultimately this wear and tear on bodies will expose workers and their employers
to a greater risk of slips, falls, and chronic back injury.
" Such injuries can lead to big payouts. It doesn't matter if employers
wrap workers in a cocoon of safety garments - helmets, glasses, gloves, boots
protective
clothing - but it won't make an iota of difference if underfoot safety
and comfort is neglected.
" Workers will still fall over if the surface underfoot is unsatisfactory, and
injuries will still build up slowly but surely if their work continually
requires them to stand on non-ergonomic surfaces."
Well-designed ergonomic anti-fatigue matting can play a huge part in injury prevention
and the reduction of standing worker fatigue, Siegle says.
" The investment is minor compared with the average cost of new NOHSC claims,
which is rising towards $10,000 a case, where falls, slips and trips result
in death, permanent disability, or a temporary disability resulting in
an absence from work of more than a week.
" Anti-fatigue mats function by encouraging subtle movement of leg and calf muscles.
As the muscles contract and relax they pump blood back to the heart and
eliminate blood pooling in the lower extremities, which often occurs if a worker's
muscles are totally static.
" At the General Mat Company we call this "Dynamic Ergonomics" - the
study of ensuring standing worker comfort by means of muscle activity."
When choosing anti-fatigue mats, there are two important issues to consider -
comfort and specific application.
Some environments require chemical or oil resistance and others require resistance
to extreme heat or welding sparks. And others require a high coefficient of friction
(COF).
Heavy duty Kleensweep
SpongeCote No.
433 from
GMC provides a buoyant, resilient surface to reduce fatigue.
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