Being a production worker for many years, I have experienced many pains associated with working on different types of concrete floors. Working on floors ranged from very smooth to extremely rough, the output is the same – painful body parts.
Things to consider while working on concrete floors are the effects that it has on your body parts. Examples will be given for you regarding: Picking the correct shoe / boot, sore feet, back pain, knee pain, hip pain, and tightening of the shoulders and neck area. And I will give you a solution on how to resolve all of these issues.
Picking the Correct Work Shoe – Steel toe boots add an additional stress to your feet. The weight of the boot is more than your shoes, so there before by the end of your first couple of shifts your legs will be sore. Make sure the shoes you choose to work in is the most important purchase you will make. Wear the type of socks that you intend to wear daily at work when trying on your new boot. Walk around in the boot for a few minutes. You will be spending hours a day in this boot / shoe, so look for comfort and width. Do not worry about being stylish. Work shoes do not offer many styles. The saying "you get what you pay for" applies in this area. Do not be cheap!
Sore Feet – Spending the majority of the day on your feet, day after day, can cause plantar faciitis. Plantar faciitis is a inflamed tissue in the shape of a rubber band that goes along the bottom of your foot. Damage to this area will cause you great pain in the heel. Waking up in the morning, taking that first step is extremely painful. Once you are up and moving the pain will lessen. Each time that you relax and try to walk again you will feel pain. Rest, ice, and ibuprofen was what the doctor ordered.
Back Pain – Standing in stationary positions on concrete floors can cause lower back problems. Concrete floors have no shock absorbency, therefore causing muscle damage that could be permanent. Each impact step taken on concrete floors radiates through the entire leg, causing damage. Relax, ice, and anti-inflammatory medicine. In some cases heat is also used. If your back does not feel better soon. You should consult a physician. Always notify your safety leader at the job-site, to make him / her aware of the situation. Doctors have been doing back surgeries for many years. Back surgeries cost from $ 80,000 to $ 150,000, without insurance.
Knee Pain – Due to lack of shock absorbency, the knee also sufferers damage. With each step your knee is very much involved. The knee is the largest joint in the body. Again with the concrete surface there is no shock absorbency so the knee will feel the total impact of every single step. The way you walk, the speed at which you walk, sudden stops, sudden turns and twist all effect your knees. Notify your safety leader at the job-site, to make him / her aware of the situation. Knee replacement surgery cost between $ 20,000 – $ 35,000, without insurance.
Hip Pain – Hip pain is a horrible dull pain. Remember each step that you take on concrete floor radiates upwards, from the foot to the calf, calf to the knee, knee to the hip. When walking, each step you take the hip is effected. With no shock absorbency in the floor this causes a jarring effect on the sockets in the hips. This is something that people do not think much about until they have worked for a long time and start feeling the pain. By the time that they realize what has happened, the damage is already beginning. Hip degeneration is in progress, and arthritis aches and pains have started. Again make sure that the safety leader is informed about any pain that you are experiencing. Luckily the doctors are mastering hip replacement, although expensive, this is an option one has available. Hip replacement surgery cost $ 32,000 to $ 44,000, without insurance.
Neck and Shoulder Pain – Believe it or not, the way that you stand and posture yourself at your workstation can cause pain in the neck and shoulders. If you have to look down constantly to do the tasks required for long periods of time, this will cause stress on your neck and shoulders. Make sure that you are doing stretches and warm up before you begin your day at work. Get a good nights rest, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Keep your body hydrated! If you are allowed to rotate to new positions on the production line, request to do so when you notice pains. Work well with your co-workers, so they will be willing to switch positions with you. When you first notice the pain beginning, notify the safety leader.
So as you can see there are many reasons you should not be working on concrete floors. Why do people work in jobs that hurt their bodies?
The only jobs that paid well were production type jobs. So therefore, I worked this job for many years and my body paid the price. It was not purchasing better shoes, it was not a visit to a different doctor, it was not even rotating positions with another co-worker. I had to totally change my life. I would like to share this information with you.
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