​Every morning and evening construction workers make their commute to and from the jobsite. Days are spent at great heights, moving in repetition and surrounded by heavy noise. Staying safe on the job site requires unique materials and equipment depending on your specific needs.
It’s important to utilize the following equipment while on the construction site to avoid and prevent personal injury.
Eye and face protection: Vision impairment and blindness can be caused by tasks such as welding, cutting, grinding and nailing due to hazardous chemicals and flying materials.
Equipment to use: Protect yourself by wearing safety glasses and face shields when necessary.
Foot protection: Injury to the feet can occur by a variety of construction site tasks including heavy equipment, falling objects and slipping and falling.
Equipment to use: Be sure to invest in footwear that fits correctly, is resistant to punctures and has slip-resistant soles. Heavy-duty work boots will help avoid crushed toes and dangerous falls that could have serious health consequences.
Hand protection: The construction site exposes workers to hand injuries with every task they perform. From lifting heavy objects, to working around heavy equipment and hazardous heat and chemicals, the potential for injury is high.
Equipment to use: There are different types of gloves and hand protection to use depending on the task. Welding calls for welding specific gloves, rubber gloves for concrete work and insulated gloves while working around electrical and weather hazards.
Head protection: To potential for head injury is nowhere near low when it comes to the construction site. Between falling objects, fixed objects, heavy equipment and accidental head contact to hazardous material, there is great risk for severe head injuries with lasting consequences.
Equipment to use: Every single worker on the construction site should be wearing a hard-hat that fits correctly. Hats should be inspected routinely to be sure they are functioning properly.
Hearing protection: Lastly, the amount of destructive noise present on the jobsite calls for proper ear protection to protect against hearing impairment and hearing loss.
Equipment to use: There are a variety of earplugs and earmuffs that provide proper protection depending on the task.
Proper construction site attire and safety equipment is just the beginning of worksite safety. Poor ergonomics should be corrected to make sure your body is moving the best that it can. You can find more on-site safety tips throughout our blog! For an on-site evaluation, contact us and we can join you at your place of work to make sure you are practicing correct work safety techniques.

The days are finally getting longer, the sun is feeling warmer and we are starting to feel that spring is right around the corner. These are the long-awaited signs that winter is coming to an end. However, don't be fooled, Mother Nature still has a trick or two up her sleeve that can cause us problems if we are not prepared.
Warmer daytime temperatures mean spring snowfalls don't stick around for long! However, it's the melting snow that can pose a big problem when nighttime temperature causes re-freezing and creates icy surfaces
Luckily, we know a thing or two about body mechanics. Follow the tips below to avoid winter slips and falls.
Use your whole foot

• Take short, slow steps and place your entire foot flat on the ground.
• Avoid shuffling - if one foot slides too far, the momentum that follows can take you for quite the ride!
• Step down and not out when stepping down from a step, curb and while exiting a vehicle. The entire bottom of your shoe should be in contact with the ground.
• If you're unsure if a surface is slippery, tap your foot to test before walking.

Use your knees

• Keep a slight bend in your knees to lower your center of gravity and improve balance.
• If you begin to fall, do not lock your knees and stick out your hands. Rather, bend your knees and try to fall to the side onto your thigh, hip and shoulder.

Use your eyes

• Pay attention to changes in your surrounding surfaces as they shift from non-slippery to slippery.
• Look at the ground ahead and not at your cell phone.
• Plan your route ahead of time to take advantage of snow cover that will provide more traction and avoid ice.

Use your hands

• Hand rails are there to help, please use them!
• Make sure your hands are free so you can use your arms for stabilization and balance should you begin to fall. Try using a back pack or carrying case with a shoulder strap.

A few more tips!

• Make sure the shoes you wear have great traction and avoid plastic or leather soles.
• Consider keeping a pair of "indoor" shoes at your workstation or desk to make wearing boots more convenient.
• If you begin to fall, try to avoid falling on an outstretched hands and tuck your chin to avoid hitting your head.
• If you begin to fall while carrying a load - toss it! Protect yourself first.

If you're not convinced that a slip on the ice is a big deal, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics identified more than 34,000 workplace slips and falls due to icy or snowy surfaces in 2014. The result of these injuries? The victims needed at least one day away from work to recuperate. This doesn't include the many thousands of minor winter injuries that didn't require time off but  impacted employee productivity due to pain and mobility.
We want you to be as safe as possible throughout all seasons, rain, ice or sunshine. Talk to a physical therapist today to find a program that is unique to you and your team. We take personal wellness seriously and are happy to extend our services to those in need.

Here in the Midwest we are no stranger to the snow. Minnesotans begin to expect the arrival of snow in October and to part with it during the months of March and April. In the meantime, it has got to go somewhere. Shoveling snow becomes one of many seasonal chores that makes its way onto the winter to-do list.
Believe it or not, shoveling can demand a lot from your body as it requires a lot of energy and hard work. Poor shoveling technique and equipment are not an uncommon occurrence. This activity paired with unhealthy ergonomics can lead to serious risks and consequences such as back and shoulder injuries to heart attacks.
Our ergonomic guide to shoveling will get you well on your way to shoveling properly and safely.

Dress appropriately
Be sure to prepare for the weather with the proper attire. Include a base layer, mid layer and insulating layer before putting on any outerwear. By doing so, you can avoid losing body heat, hypothermia and frostbite. Tech fabrics such as polypropylene or polyester work great as a base layer. These fabrics force moisture to pass through its fibers, expelling it to the fabric’s surface where it can evaporate.

Before you shovel
As eager as you might be to get out to your driveway and begin plowing away at the previous night’s snowfall, avoid actually stepping on any of the snow you wish to shovel. Once snow is condensed it can be harder to shovel. Assess where you need to shovel and the pattern you will travel before blindly flattening the snow with your feet.

The shovel makes a difference
Of course, there are a variety of shovels one can choose from. A straight shovel is effective for lifting while a curved shovel makes pushing snow a lot easier. Determine which shovel is best for you and your shoveling needs before choosing the first one you find at your local store.

Grease your shovel
If you’re familiar with a Minnesota snowfall, you’ll know just how sticky some snow can be. Using a spray lubricant will keep large amounts of snow clinging and sticking together and to the shovel.

Lift correctly
Before you begin to lift ample amounts of snow, try to push the snow when and where you can as this is safer than lifting. When you must lift, make sure to lift light loads, avoid twisting, and throw each load a short distance. Lifting snow properly will help you avoid lifting-related injuries. The best techniques to remember while shoveling are keeping your back straight, bend from your hips and knees and keep your feet positioned in a wide stance. Also, try to switch from the right to the left with every “lift and throw” of snow.

Take breaks and stay hydrated
​It’s important to pace yourself while pushing your body in any difficult activity. Shoveling isn’t an easy task. The same way you might take breaks while exercising is a habit you should apply to the task of shoveling snow. Taking too few breaks is unfortunately a common poor habit that yields unhealthy results. Yes, you can get dehydrated in the winter! Make sure to drink lots of fluids that are water only or water based, such as hot tea.
Shoveling the snow during the winter season might be a dreaded chore, but it truly doesn’t need to be! With these ergonomic tips, your shoveling experience should move a lot more smoothly.
For more ergonomic guides and safety-related resources, check out our blog.