When you head into work everyday there are some basic things that you can do to make sure you have a successful and safe day at work. You can do your best to have a good relationship with your supervisor, you can maintain good relationships with your co-workers, you can follow any and all safety guidelines that are provided to you by your employer, among other things. These few items can make your work life quite nice and help you have success at work.
These items are nice, but did you know there are a few even simpler things you can do to keep yourself happy, safe and healthy at work that you can do quite easily without the help of anyone else? It’s true. While not all workplace accidents can be prevented and you could get into one tomorrow, even if you are doing all the right things, avoiding injury and in turn a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim can be something you have more control over then you might think or even realize.
The good news is that the three simplest ways to keep yourself healthy, happy and safe at work are all in your control, while other aspects of your safety at work may not always be in your control. You can take steps to keep yourself safe, but there will always be elements of your job that you may not be able to control quite as well and they could lead to a situation where you become injured on the job. For now, we’re focusing on what is in your control, the following three easy things you can do every day at work.
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Take breaks. While federal law does not require that employers give hourly employees breaks, many companies do offer short breaks throughout the day. In Connecticut, the only required break for employees is a lunch break that lasts 30 minutes. If you are an hourly employee you are only entitled to this break if you work 7.5 hours or more. Anyone who works a job that requires a lot of physical or mental effort will tell you that no breaks during the day can be extremely taxing and can cause fatigue that can lead to mistakes which may lead to an injury. Whether your employer recognizes this or not, you need to take breaks throughout the day. This doesn’t mean you should walk off the job for hours at a time, but if you need a five minute respite from what you’re working on you should talk to your supervisor about it and make it happen. Your work will be better for it and so too will your safety.
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Always stay hydrated. While we often talk about hydration during the summer months, staying hydrated is a year long endeavor that can help keep you focused and alert while you are performing the duties of your job. According to The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine the average man needs nearly 4 liters of water per day (that’s 15.5 cups of water) and the average woman needs nearly 3 liters of water per day (that’s 11.5 cups of water.) This is a lot of water, yes, but if you are hydrated you will absolutely be able to perform the duties of your job more effectively and more safely so mistakes are not made and you can avoid injuries.
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Listen to your body. This can be a tricky one as listening to your body may mean something different to everyone. It is important to know your body’s limitations, especially if your job requires you to perform physical duties, but also from a mental capacity as well. Every person is different and every answer to the question about your body’s capacity will be different, so you need to do your best to be in tune with what your body is telling you. Aches and pains may be something you can deal with, but when you feel something a little more painful, you may need to take some time off to heal. If you are performing the duties of your job and your body is not in its ideal state you may make mistakes that could lead to injuries.
These three simple things you can do can make a big difference on how you perform the duties of your job. If you take these three things seriously they can have the same impact on your chances of becoming injured as reading safety manuals and understanding the safety rules of your job. In tandem, these things can help you avoid an injury and limit your need to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim because you are missing time away from your job.
If you become injured while on the job you should report your injury to your immediate supervisor and then you may need to contact a board certified workers’ compensation attorney. Contact our office and one of our attorneys will speak with you about your situation and how they may be able to work with you to protect your long-term interests.
