Working in Construction? Here's What You Need to Know About On-the-Job Injuries and Pain

UPDATED 12/7/20

For construction workers, it is important to pay attention to back pain. The common misconception is that pain is gain and if you don’t feel pain, you didn’t work hard enough. That is not true. Back pain and muscle pain are indicators of improper lifting. Never lean over to pick up something. Despite the lightweight, it may be enough to strain a muscle or cause pain for an extended amount of time. If there is back pain after heavy lifting, step to the side and stretch the back muscles to prevent more damage. It’s always important to bend at the knees with a straight back and point your eyes forward for a good posture.

Even if your back doesn’t hurt at work, pay attention to your back pain after work. Buy a rice bag that you can throw in the microwave for 2.5 minutes, and then lay on it or drape it over the muscle that hurts. Be careful of back nerve pain. If the back nerve pain symptoms are ignored, they will get even worse. The symptoms include numbness or decreased sensation, muscle weakness, and sharp pain.

Construction workers and contractors really are the backbone of our modern society today. If you think about it, there are so many things we would not be able to enjoy without the beloved construction workers and contractors of our nation. Homeowners willing dish out about $29 billion every year just on cooling. The installation, maintenance, and repair of those cooling units would not be possible without contractors and construction workers.

The roofs of our homes are another thing that would not be possible without the work of contractors and construction workers. Most smaller, common roof repairs can cost anywhere between $150 and $400, with labor costing $45 to $75 per hour. Have you ever wondered why they charge so much for those kinds of jobs? Well, one of the reasons is that they contribute to the incredible amount of pain contractors and construction workers experience.

Think about how easily a construction worker or contractor could injure their feet, ankles, and even legs while on a job. In fact, approximately 75% of Americans will deal with foot health problems of varying degrees of severity at some point in their lives. A lot of those people happen to be contractors and construction workers.

Unfortunately, foot injuries aren’t the only issues these professionals deal with, either. Additionally, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 80% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their life. Even more, 30% of construction workers miss work due to a back injury. In a report from the Health and Safety Executive, an average of 17 days were missed for each back pain case in construction workers in 2015. Finally, 57% of workers who work in construction report having extreme pain in their back, ankles, and knees.

What exactly is causing the people in this line of work to experience all this pain? According to OSHA, there are a few common reasons. Those include: lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, reaching, twisting, bending, incorrect posture, long hours, repetitive tasks, and even a heavy tool belt. All of these things are happening every day, and it will eventually take a toll on the body.

There are some tips to help workers in this line of profession prevent the almost inevitable pain that so many experience on and off the job. This first comes with proper lifting. First, you want to make sure you are always keeping your back straight when you lift. Do not twist or bend it while lifting a heavy object. Handle aids should always be used when possible. You can also invest in a construction back brace so you can take some pressure off of your back. Finally, do not ever lift anything over 51 pounds by yourself.

The second biggest thing you can do to prevent back pain is actually not on the job. The way you behave after hours can affect your pain as well. You want to make sure you get limber before work. This means doing warm-ups before you get on the job site. You should stretch your neck, lower back, chest, shoulders, and legs. You can also invest some time in getting a massage and properly icing after work to keep your muscles in good shape.

Construction work is not easy, and it’s bound to cause some wear and tear on the body. Because of this, it’s important for you to take proper care on and off the job site so you don’t permanently hurt your body and put yourself out of work.

The construction industry faces a high rate of back pain and injuries due to the job’s nature. With the many construction activities taking place in the world, people in construction should be aware f the challenges they face and how they can overcome them. When at a building site, you’ll notice a lot of heavy lifting. That is what results in most of their back pains. The work they do is also mostly manual, which strains their backs a lot.

Every individual with a building project must encourage their workers to use all available modern technologies to make their work easier. New construction homes can embrace modernization to protect all workers and their employers.

Looking at the various aspects of construction such as framing and masonry, making the high-risk about construction tasks easier by use of machinery is possible. The workers should also work on reducing the amount of time spent bending in risky postures. They should lay out their work areas appropriately to enhance proper movement and posture. After taking care of themselves at work, they should take adequate rest and have a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating, to help their bodies regain their energy. They should also invest in a good medical insurance cover to enable them to access the right treatment when there’s a need.