Pilbara Health

Did you know that three quarters of loss time injuries at Pilbara Iron are caused  by soft tissue injuries (STIs) such as sprains, strains and bruising. In most cases  these can be avoided by following correct manual handling procedures and  taking more time to assess the risk of injury.

Common conditions include muscle strains and repetitive stress injuries such as  carpal tunnel syndrome. Manual handling actions, which can contribute to STIs include sudden peaks in physical loads, frequent bending and twisting of the  trunk, vibration, slips and falls and repetitive and constrained actions such as  lifting in confined spaces or at height.

”The best way to reduce the risk of an STI is to take five minutes  to assess the risk. If you identify a manual handling problem then  try to put controls in place to eliminate that risk and ask why you  need to lift at all. If this is not possible, ask yourself: can I reduce  the risk of injury by using mechanical aids? Only as a last resort
should you use your own force to move a heavy object. In these  situations, get two or more people to help” said Coastal injury  management advisor Weng Ho.

Treating an STI is simple if you remember the acronym RICE: rest, ice,  compression and elevate. Try not to move the muscle as it will increase blood  flow and bleeding at the injury site. Apply ice over the injury to reduce swelling  but always with a protective barrier such as a cloth to prevent cold burns.  Compress the injury site with a bandage to reduce swelling and bleeding. Raise the area above the level of the heart if possible  to decrease bleeding, swelling and pain.

Although the RICE method is an effective way to treat soft  tissue injuries, a better method is to avoid them altogether.  The goal is zero injuries and illnesses at work and we  can all contribute by slowing down and taking  more time to determine if the action we are  taking may lead to a preventable injury.

Download this month's calendar tools  for more great tips on  preventing STIs.