In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home has become increasingly popular. At the start of the pandemic, many businesses allowed their employees to work remotely to keep them safe and healthy.
Now, however, many of those employees are returning to work in person. And others never had the option to work from home due to their line of work.
Whatever the case, if you don’t work from home and can’t always control your surroundings, it’s important to keep yourself safe and healthy on the job. Whether you’re transitioning back to an office setting or you’ve decided to make your health a priority this year (and beyond), there are a few precautions you can take and tips to keep in mind to maintain your health and stay safe at work.
Let’s look at a few of those ideas and how they can fit into your workplace environment.
When You Work Long Hours
Americans work an average of 34.4 hours per week. Unfortunately, some jobs require their employees to spend longer hours at work, whether it’s spaced out throughout the week or broken up into several long shifts. Some of the jobs with the longest working hours include:
- Truck drivers
- Developers
- Power plant workers
- Managers/executives
- Healthcare workers
While working long hours might have perks in the payment department, it could come at a cost to your health. One French study found that those who work 10 hours or more each day for at least 50 days are at an increased risk of having a stroke. Working too much can also take a toll on your mental health, boosting your stress levels, creating a poor work-life balance, and affecting your relationships.
You might also get tired easily when you’ve been at work most of the day (or night!). That can cause you to become tired and fatigued, making it easy to lose focus. As a result, you may be at a greater risk of injuring yourself or getting involved in an accident on the job. No matter what kind of job you have, it’s important not to ignore the potential risks and things that could happen if you’re not paying attention.
Over 2.2 million people die each year due to workplace injuries, incidents, or illnesses. While having first aid knowledge can help you to take care of others on the job, it’s harder to take care of yourself when you’re exhausted and overworked. So, make sure you’re getting enough rest, finding ways to de-stress, and eating for energy when you’re not on the job.
When You Have a Desk Job
According to the American Heart Association, sedentary jobs have increased by 83% since 1950. While it might not seem like sitting is dangerous, staying sedentary for hours each day can pose a greater risk to your health than you might realize. Studies have shown that sitting too much each day increases your risk of conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Dementia
- Diabetes
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Anxiety
- Varicose veins
Even if you exercise every day when you’re not at work, you can’t “undo” the effects of sitting for long periods. Thankfully, there are little things you can do to stay active on the job, even if you’re behind a desk most of the time.
First, take breaks as often as possible. Use that time to stand up from your desk and stretch. If you have a longer break, take a walk, even if it’s just around the hallways of your office building. You can even do a few strength-training exercises right at your desk whenever you’re feeling sluggish. Try squats, incline pushups against your desk, or dips to get your blood flowing. Try listening to music to get you in the mood to move throughout the day. Not only can it remind you to be active whenever possible, but music can also help to boost your mood and increase your productivity.
Taking Precautions to Keep Yourself Safe
Keeping yourself safe at work involves taking care of yourself outside of work, too. You may not be able to control how many hours you work each day. You may not be able to control your work environment or the people you see every day. But, you are in control of your own health and safety.
There are a few precautionary tips to keep in mind that can help you to stay safe, no matter your industry. The most important is making sure you understand the risks of your job. Obviously, the risks of a healthcare worker will be different from those of someone who works at a bank or in an office. But, every job has them. Identify and understand yours, so you can take active steps to avoid them.
Reduce stress as often as you can, take breaks frequently, and make sure you have a healthy work-life balance so your job doesn’t take over every aspect of your life. Remember, your job doesn’t have to be who you are, only what you do. Make your health a priority in every aspect of your life, and you can feel more relaxed at work knowing you’re creating a safer environment for yourself.
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