Prevent the post-holiday injury spike: summer fitness for your workers

The holiday season is a time to relax, recharge, and take a well-deserved break. However, for workers in manual handling roles, returning to work after time off can bring challenges, including a higher risk of injury.

After just two weeks of inactivity, even the fittest workers can lose muscle strength. So, how can you help your team return safely and stay injury-free?

After an extended break, we can expect that as workers in manual handling jobs return to their typical working hours and roles, we will see a spike in musculoskeletal injuries. The good news is, we can curb this spike by preparing our workers and work environment.

What is deconditioning?

Think of your workers as sports people. “Industrial athletes” if you will. They are trained to perform a particular task, and their bodies are tuned to do these tasks regularly, and repetitively.

While many industries continue operations during the Christmas and New Year period, many organisations shut down for a week or more during this time of year. Your workers may develop a more sedentary lifestyle, and as a result, muscles may become deconditioned.

According to research by the Center for Healthy Ageing and the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, it takes just two weeks of physical inactivity for those who are physically fit to lose a significant amount of their muscle strength. The more muscle a person has, the more they will lose if they are sidelined by an injury, illness or holiday.

Who is most at risk?

Workers who are returning to their typical role after more than two weeks away, and those who have been working reduced hours and are about to substantially increase hours are most at risk.

Roles which are considered high risk are:

• Heavy manual handling jobs
• Roles which require repetitive movement

What can employers do?

• Identify high risk roles within the business and ensure that workers are fit for task and able to perform the inherent requirements of their role.
• Ensure your supervisors are well-equipped to prevent and manage injuries, and refresh their training where required. Work Healthy Australia can assist with tailored supervisor training for your business.
• Implement stretching and warm up programs prior to shifts starting.
• If, through your assessments, you find workers that are de-conditioned, implement work hardening programs to gradually build up their muscle strength before returning to full capacity. Work Healthy Australia can assist with formulating a tailored work hardening program.
• If hiring new staff to meet increased demands, employers should carry out the necessary pre-employment screens to ensure workers are assigned appropriate tasks.
• Encourage staff going on extended leave to maintain their fitness.