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What Jobs Put You at the Greatest Risk of Injury?

Josh Krueger • Oct 22, 2021

Most, if not all jobs, come with a certain amount of risk. From physically demanding jobs, to first responder positions, to jobs requiring lots of travel, there are many positions that you take on assuming a certain amount of risk. Understanding the risks of certain jobs is an important first step to minimize them through awareness and safety precautions.

Construction Workers

Working on a construction site presents a number of day-to-day risks . One of the most common risks is that objects are constantly moving around. This could be materials, and the machinery and equipment used to transport materials around the construction site. This means you need to constantly be aware of your surroundings and looking up, down, right, and left before you move somewhere. Spatial awareness will also help you prevent slips, trips, and falls, which account for nearly 40 percent of all non-fatal injuries on construction sites. Construction sites can also be very noisy places due to the nature of the equipment used. Protect your ears with the proper PPE if you are going to be around loud equipment. 

Roofers

Being a roofer is an inherently dangerous job. You are up at high heights, on sometimes unsteady material, working to perform a job with precision. Slipping and falling on a roof is a common accident that can be fatal. In addition to falling from roofs and skylights, you can also fall off ladders. These accidents can lead to broken bones, organ damage, and head trauma. You need to have good visual perception and spatial awareness, and not let the intricacies of the job distract you from maintaining your footing. Electrocution is another risk of being a roofer. Electrocution can occur when a roofer accidentally makes contact with an overhead power line. Roofers should also be aware of the risks of heat exhaustion, and if possible, avoid working in extreme temperatures.

Healthcare Workers

Having a career treating patients and saving lives can put you at risk for injury. Healthcare workers frequently deal with sharp objects, like needles and scalpels that can injure them if not used properly. Depending on the role, working in healthcare can pose physical hazards from lifting people out of beds and wheelchairs, and moving around heavy equipment while on their feet all day. All of this lifting and moving can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain and strain. Many chemicals used in healthcare settings, whether to treat patients or clean work stations, can pose a threat if they are inhaled or if they make contact with skin. Without proper PPE, healthcare workers may become exposed to contagious viruses and bacteria that can cause them to become ill. 

Agricultural Jobs

There are many injury risks associated with working in agriculture, especially as a harvester. Transportation-related accidents top the list of the most common reasons for injuries on the job. Agricultural jobs require using equipment for managing and picking crops, including large equipment items like tractors. Tractor canopies can prevent rollover accidents from occurring while you are using it. Other equipment used to harvest food can cause injuries to your fingers, hands, and arms. Injuries from falling down or slipping on the job are also common. Many of these injuries can occur from overexertion or dehydration. 

Loggers

In addition to being a dirty job, logging can also be extremely dangerous. Loggers spend almost all day outdoors cutting down trees, transporting trees, and cutting them up in different ways depending on the intended use of the wood. One of the main risks of injury in logging is having a tree fall on you once you cut it down. There are also risks when using chainsaws that can cut or maim you. In addition, the ruggedness of the landscape and variability of the temperature and conditions can make the workplace even more dangerous. Safer tools and better training are the main ways that loggers can help to prevent dangerous accidents on the job. 

Ironworkers

Ironworkers weld metals like iron and steel using heated tools. One of the main risks of injury for this job is burns. The fire used to heat instruments to weld metals can reach scorching temperatures. Ironworkers need to wear the proper clothing , gloves, and protective ear wear to protect themselves from burns. Muscle strain is another common workplace injury. Ironworking involves moving heavy pieces of metal around, including unloading and stacking these pieces. All of this can wreak havoc on your arms, back and shoulders, causing pain and strain. Falling is another risk for ironworkers, especially those installing metal at construction sites.

Garbage Collectors

Working as a garbage collector can also put you at risk for injury. Oftentimes, garbage collectors will have to lift heavy objects, including trash bins, which can lead to back and spinal injuries, and even hernias. Slipping and falling is another workplace hazard . Garbage collectors work outdoors in all types of conditions, so rain and snow can lead to slick roads and sidewalks. Garbage collectors also risk being hit by oncoming traffic, an accident that can be fatal. 

Power Line Workers

Powerline workers face a number of risks on the job. The first is from falling. Power line workers have to work up high at the top of powerlines in order to do their job. This puts them at risk from falling from these heights and injuring themselves. Electrocution is another risk of the job. Power line workers are manipulating live electric lines, and if mishandled without proper protective wear, this can lead to being electrocuted. Power line workers often have to work in rough or dangerous weather conditions, like rain, thunderstorms, or snow. These weather events make for dangerous work conditions that can lead to workplace accidents, and slipping and falling.

It is important to understand the risks associated with any job before deciding to pursue them. There are a number of ways to minimize risks of injury on the job, and you should receive specialized workplace safety training to help you. Being aware of the risks and the ways you can protect yourself from injury is the best way to protect yourself.

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A Physical Therapy Holiday Survival Guide

08 Dec, 2022
Keeping up with physical therapy during the holidays is tough. There are so many other things to do - cooking, parties, shopping, travel, and visiting with family and friends. But if you're in physical therapy over the holidays, there's a reason. You're having pain, or not moving as well as you want to. These issues place limitations on your life, which are going to affect your ability to do things - like cooking, partying, shopping, traveling, or enjoying time with friends and family. So even though keeping up with your PT this time of year is tough, it's important. That's why we're going to give you our best tips to help you through the holidays. Plan Some of what makes the holidays challenging is the crazy schedule. To survive this, you're going to have to plan ahead. We're not just talking about appointments on your calendar, either (although those are important). Here are some things to think about planning ahead: Your PT appointments Your schedule is busy during the holidays. So is your PT's. Plan and schedule your appointments in advance. You'll get the times and days that work best for you, and you'll already have your PT appointments in your calendar to plan other things around. Your exercise Hopefully you have a regular time to exercise. With the holiday mania about to shake up your routine, that time may no longer work. Think about when you're going to exercise ahead of time and you'll stay consistent. Your diet Healthy eating often gets derailed during the holidays. Putting low quality fuel into your body won't help you feel better. Think about planning what you're going to eat ahead of time. We're not saying to skip every holiday treat offered to you, but maybe think about which ones you really need to have, and which ones you can skip in advance. It makes saying "no thanks" to that third slice of fruitcake easier. Modify We're realistic. We understand that life isn't the same during the holidays as it is during the rest of the year. That's part of what makes this time of year special! With that in mind, our next set of tips focuses on making modifications to help you get through the holidays successfully. Your PT Plan When you planned your PT appointments out well in advance, you might have run into some challenges. Talk to your therapist about how you might be able to modify your plan of care through the holidays to make it all work. Maybe you're going to PT three times a week and you can only come twice a week for a week or two. Plan this sort of thing in advance with your PT and you can work together to come up with the best plan. Your exercise Exercise is so important, it made our list twice. Now that you know when you'll exercise, you might have to modify your routine to make it fit. Again, we recommend talking with your PT to see what you can do. Maybe your home exercise program can be modified so you can do everything in the kitchen during downtime when you're cooking up your holiday feast. Maybe you can reduce the number of exercises to focus on maintaining the gains you've made until things settle down. Your schedule In your planning in advance (see how important it is?) you might have found that your normal routine wasn't going to work. If your PT appointments or exercise time is usually right after work and you've now got commitments during that time, maybe you can move them to the morning before work. If you've been exercising outside, the shortened days may move you into the gym. Be flexible and consider temporarily modifying your schedule and your routine to make it work better during the holiday season. You can always go back to your previous routine after. The holidays are a special time of year. Keeping up with your health and your physical therapy can be challenging during this time. But you don't have to fall behind. With some planning and flexibility, you can stay healthy, survive the holidays and head into next year with good momentum!

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Hockey: The Best Sport EVER!

By Rec Center Physical Theraphy • 23 Nov, 2021
With winter right around the corner, now is a great time to start thinking about what winter sport is right for me. A number of you have been enjoying the sport of hockey or are possibly curious about the best sport EVER. Hockey is played indoors on NHL or Olympic sized sheets of ice in arenas, or out on the small ponds or flooded areas in your local parks that the city has provided. More and more people are enjoying this dynamic sport. Hockey provides a great total body workout that will challenge your balance, muscles, and general cardiovascular system. Let's look at some of the many benefits.
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