Injury prevention directly supports mission readiness. When service members are injured in the workplace, training, recreating or other circumstances, it impacts their ability to complete their mission.
Injury Prevention
Messages for Communicators
- Musculoskeletal injuries account for more than 50% of service members’ lost duty days.
- An Army study found that, of soldiers who cannot deploy for medical reasons, 65% can be attributed to noncombat musculoskeletal injuries.
- The most common injuries across DOD that cause lost or limited duty days include upper and lower extremity fractures, lower sprains and strains, dislocations, and spinal and back injuries.
- The most common injuries across DOD that cause lost or limited duty days include upper and lower extremity fractures, lower sprains and strains, dislocations, and spinal and back injuries.
- Injuries affect readiness through increased limited duty days, decreased deployability rates, and increased medical separation rates.
- Recovery, resiliency, durability, and final outcome of a preventable injury can impact short-term and future mission capability.
- The great risk factor for a musculoskeletal injury.
- A good recovery program, executed properly, accelerates recovery and gets service members back to full duty status.
Occupational Health for Health Care Workers
Medical workers face unique occupational health risks, and experience one of the highest rates of workplace injury. Ensuring the health and safety of our staff in hospitals and clinics is top priority for the DHA.
Message for Communicators
- Medical workers experience some of the highest incidence of workplace injury.
- The most common injuries for health care workers are needle sticks, slip and falls, and repetitive stress injuries.
- Small injuries can pile up over time -- it is better to seek medical advice before small injuries turn into something more serious.
- Providing for the health and safety of our DHA health care workforce contributes to the quality care we deliver to our patients.
- Tips to limit workplace injuries:
- A short 30-60 second break in work to stretch and change postures can improve musculoskeletal health.
- When lifting and carrying items, avoid twisting and keep the item close to your body.
- The weight of a backpack should not exceed 15% of the user's weight to reduce risk of back injury.
- When lifting, break down larger items into smaller, lighter loads.
- Engineering controls are the best way to minimize and eliminate exposure to work related musculoskeletal disorder risk factors. Consider use of dollies, carts, lifts, power tools, and other task appropriate equipment.
- Store materials in the "strike zone" (mid-though to shoulder height).
- Ask for help with activities that could stress your capabilities.
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