No matter what kind of manual labor you’ve decided to take on, there’s no denying the effects it can have on your body. If you work manual labor for a living, you’re an integral part of society that we can’t afford to lose. You deserve a safe work environment like everyone else, but manual labor jobs can make that more difficult if you aren’t careful. Use these tips to keep yourself safe working manual labor so that it doesn’t get the better of you.
Know and Respect Your Limits
You must be strong and have serious endurance to work extended periods in a manual labor job. No matter how long you’ve been doing it or how well you take care of yourself, you still need to know your limits. Trying to show off by lifting far more than you should or working way more hours than is healthy is a recipe for disaster. Make sure you and the people you work with know where the line is and respect that line throughout your time at work.
Always Wear Proper PPE
An easy way to keep yourself safe while working in manual labor is to always wear your personal protective equipment. Many laborers who thought nothing bad could ever happen to them have sustained injuries or worse because they refused to wear proper PPE. Gloves, goggles, breathing apparatuses—all these things help ensure your health in the long term. Even high-visibility clothing in various classes is crucial to wear as protection against the mistakes or missteps of coworkers, so don’t walk around without it.
Take Advantage of Your Breaks
You are a human first and foremost, not an unfeeling machine that can keep going nonstop. Working through breaks is something manual laborers do sometimes, and it can have lots of harmful effects. The longer you work without taking a break, the more prone you are to making mistakes and getting yourself or someone else hurt. Breaks aren’t just for taking it easy; they’re vital to ensuring your safety on a long day of work.
Don’t Forego a Warmup
People who exercise regularly will tell you over and over again how critical it is to warm up before you start. It’s the same thing for manual labor. Your job is just one long workout, so it pays off to warm up properly before you begin. Not only will a warmup help prevent you from hurting yourself accidentally, but it will prepare your body for the work ahead. Therefore, it’ll allow you to get more done in less time because you aren’t pushing your body into difficult work immediately from its resting state.
