Back injuries are one of the most common causes of injuries in any workplace in the United States, including oil fields. Many oil field jobs involve lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing and pulling heavy objects, all of which can lead to back injuries. Bending, lifting in the wrong direction, or working in an awkward posture can also cause injury.
Heavy lifting and manual material handling are leading causes of back injuries in the workplace. Overexertion and cumulative trauma are often the biggest causes of back injuries that result in lost days at the workplace.
Back pain can develop gradually over time as a result of a repeated activity or as a result of a single traumatic event. Because back injuries can develop slowly, they are often ignored until symptoms become acute, often leading to disability.
The risk of injury from working in an oil field is very high. Surfaces quickly become wet and slippery. Where there is no handrail to hold on to, the crew may slip and fall. Inadequate lighting, malfunctioning equipment, and loss of control of machinery can cause accidents leading to fractures and spinal cord injuries. Falling down stairs can cause injuries that take months to recover from. If the spine is damaged, the victim may never be able to work again and may face lifelong paralysis and other complications.
BACK INJURY TREATMENT AT SPECIALTY CARE CLINICS
For injured workers, primary care and urgent care are available at Specialty Care Clinics.
All types of back injuries are treated by our doctors.
Our doctors have the knowledge, experience, and tools necessary to handle even the most severe back injuries.
If you experience a back injury at the workplace, call us for medical help immediately.
To book an appointment at Specialty Care Clinics dial (469) 545-9983.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF BACK INJURIES IN OIL FIELDS?
Lifting loads greater than about 50 pounds increases the risk of worker injury, but the difficulty in assessing the risks associated with lifting or carrying on the job is that weight alone is not identify the potential risk of injury.
Back injuries can lead to a lot of severe conditions, the common causes of back injury in oil fields are:
- Stressful work activities
- Inefficient task
- Fatigue
- Vibration
- Repetitive lifting of heavy
- Poor posture
- Working while bent over for more time
- Bad body mechanics while lifting, pulling or pushing.
- Twisting or bending while lifting
- Heavy lifting
- Lifting with forceful movement
HOW TO PREVENT BACK INJURIES WHILE WORKING IN OIL FIELDS?
The following are preventive measures for back injuries at the oil field:
Workout: Strengthening your back is a very important maintenance technique for reducing back injury. Not only is it beneficial for overall health, but the recommended exercise (3 times a week at a moderate pace of 30 minutes per session) can help you stay in good physical shape on and off work. Do safety training that specifically emphasizes the benefits of strength training, weightlifting, and cardio.
Practicing the following exercises will strengthen your back and reduce injury:
- Front Squats.
- Pull-ups
- Chin-ups
- Deadlifts
- Abdominal Chair Crunch
- Kneeling Extension
- Plank Hold
- Hip Lifts
Ask for help when needed: Encourage your workers to ask for help whenever they need it. Injuries are often caused by overexertion. In fact, it’s the most common injury. Reiterate that there is no shame in asking for help from another coworker to lift, move, pull, or push an object that is too heavy for one person.
Lift properly: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than three-quarters of back injuries occur when employees lift. To minimize your risk, squeeze your abs and lift with your knees, not your back. Hold the object as close to your body as possible and ask for help if needed.
Do’s:
- Bend your knees, not your hips, and keep your back straight
- Hold the object as close to your body as possible and slowly straighten your legs and lift.
- Move your feet to turn around and avoid obstacles
- Bend your knees again when lowering the object
Don’ts:
- Bring your feet closer together or around your back
- Lift unbalanced loads or loads that are too heavy to lift without assistance
- Lift heavy objects immediately after sitting or slouching for a long time
- Bend your neck and arch your back to lift an object above the head
Modify repetitive tasks: If possible, use lifting equipment to help lift the load. Try alternating between physically demanding tasks and less demanding tasks. Do not bend or twist unnecessarily. Limit the amount of time you carry around heavy weights.
Visit Specialty Care Clinics if you suffer from a back injury at work, call us at (469) 545-9983 to book an appointment.