Health

National Safety Month: Prevent Overexertion at Work and at Home

June 21, 2010

The National Safety Council (NSC) recently launched its Preventing Overexertion at Work and at Home Week during National Safety Month, an annual observance to increase education about the top causes of preventable injuries and deaths in June.

Laura Walter

Overexertion is the third leading cause of injury in the United States. An estimated 3.5 million overexertion injuries occur every year. Most are the result of lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. Back injuries are the most common form of overexertion in the workplace.

Prevent overexertion by:

Stretching and/or warming up before heavy lifting or strenuous activity.
Lifting with your legs bent and objects held close to your body.
Avoiding bending, reaching and twisting when lifting.
Asking a friend for help when lifting.

NSC has additional materials to prevent overexertion at work and at home. Posters, tip sheets and more are available for free download. For more information on National Safety Month, visit http://nsc.org/nsm.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.