Workplace Fitness: The unhealthiest jobs (you've probably got one)
How healthy is your work environment? We all face challenges, for some it's an office full of candy dishes and donuts and for others it's about physical danger and hardhats are involved. There are different kinds of health hazards, but for the purposes of finding out which jobs were the unhealthiest the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently did a survey where they tracked how often employees in different professions sustained on-the-job injuries that caused them to miss at least one day of work. The results may surprise you.
Gallery: America's Unhealthiest Jobs
Gallery: How to keep your unhealthy job from killing you
The #1 most unhealthy job is Construction Worker, and admittedly that one doesn't surprise me much with all the heights, potential for falling debris, and heavy-duty machinery, but the #2 job took me a bit by surprise: Office/Administrative Staff. I realize that repetitive strain injuries are fairly common, but they're common enough to rank working in an office as the second most unhealthy job? That's both amazing and sad.
The rest of the list includes other seemingly harmless jobs likes sales, nursing aides, housekeepers, and even waiters. What, no asbestos removal technicians?
So you've got a risky job, now what? (I've actually had 4 of these 8 in my life already) What can you do about it? Don't worry, there's plenty of ways to protect yourself.
How to keep your unhealthy job from killing you
Do job-specific workouts
This means that you should target whatever muscles and muscle-groups your job asks you to use the most. Even if you sit at a desk all day, treating yourself like an athlete (working with a physical therapist, getting regular exercise, targeting trouble spots) can help set your body up for whatever it is you're demanding of it.
Take regular breaks
Many injuries, especially over-use injuries, can be completely avoided in many cases by simply taking regular breaks to stretch, change positions, and relax. Do some deep breathing exercises and take the opportunity to give your body a break from your normal workload, i.e. if you stand all day sit down, or if you sit all day stand up. And if you need to set a timer to go off every hour or so to remind you, do it.
Keep back-up supplies
If you use any safety equipment, like safety goggles, gloves, or a back-brace, make sure you always have a spare on hand.
Know your rights
No matter where you work or what you do, your employer should have a safety program and safety guidelines for you to follow -- follow them. If they don't have one then talk to management about getting one and, if you need to, report them to OSHA.
Be proactive
Don't wait until you get hurt to start taking precautions against getting hurt again. Preventing it the first time around is so much easier!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-16-2008 @ 7:31PM
Pamela Burcsak said...
I teach Rebounding and Lympha-Sizing on the Mini Trampoline. I would like to see this education and equipment in every office and wellness program across the country. What it would do to manage stress and cut health care cost would be staggering. This may sound strange, but gently Bouncing and Naturally releasing the fluids around the cells of the body, allow for the greatest amount of oxygen and nutrients to reach their destination. Stress constricts the body's ability to function properly, triggering over-reaction that is proven to affect the health of every person on the planet. Lympha-Sizing returns the cell invironment to a dry state from a wet state. It is this wet state that carries the waste and toxins the body can no longer use. This wet state also inhibates oxygen from reaching the cells efficiently. When properly released, by way of gently bouncing on a zero gravity surface, the body is then prepared and conditioned to take in more oxygen which equals more energy. At the end of a learned, paced workout on the mat, the person dismounts, not out of breath, but in breath. Not lacking energy, but having increased it. The Lymphatic System moves very slowly on its own and it is the vertical "Up and Down" movement of the gentle bouncing that makes this all happen. It is really that simple! There are even office chairs with balls in them for maintaining this health/life improvement. So don't wait to take care of that stress later on...It's too late then. Take care of it right then...Bounce! I have a mini trampoline right by my desk in my office. When I get stressed or my neck starts cramping up...I just go over to the mat and bounce for a few minute. I can literally feel it go away and I am not allowing the stress to take hold. Such a simple way to self manage the tension. I was so impressed with this technique, I became a certified Lymphatic Rebounding Coach. I feel this is definately one of the most important ways to cut health care costs and re-empower each person in this country against life shortening issues, in the workplace and at home. Lymph-Sizing is the ultimate health/life style movement one could take into their daily routine, no matter what your game is!
http://www.therollingriver.net/ReboundingforLife.html
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