Foot Care @ Work
Protect your feet!
Your feet take a pounding in the workplace.
The everyday demands of your work such as walking, standing for long periods, lifting and jumping on or off machinery can place your feet under tremendous pressure.While you are working, your feet absorb up to three times your body weight and working feet can travel up to 24 kilometres in a day!1
The work environment can also create health risks for working feet. When your job requires you to stand on your feet for long periods, work in potentially hazardous areas or with potentially hazardous materials, you have some potential risk of foot injury.
Work-related foot injuries are common. According to the American National Safety Council, there are about 120,000 job-related foot injuries in any given year in the US2. According to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), in New Zealand, foot, toe and lower leg injuries make up almost 9% of all work injury claims2.
Work related foot injuries can often result in significant time off work as well as be costly to fix.
In Australia, figures from the Occupational Health and Safety Commission show that an average foot and toe injury can result in seven weeks off work with a cost per injury of $5,0002. In New Zealand, figures from ACC, show that an average foot, toe and lower leg injury can cost between $2,615 to $10,0382, depending on the amount of time required for the injury to heal and time required off work.
Foot care in the workplace
Your foot is a complex structure made up of 26 bones, thirty-three joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles and tendons. In fact, the 52 bones in both of your feet make up one quarter of all the bones in your body. No wonder your feet hurt sometimes when you stand or walk on them for long periods of time. However, there are a number of things you can do to help prevent foot problems at work.
On the job:
- Be aware of hazards in your workplace such as wet areas or slippery surfaces and take the proper protective measures
- Make sure your shoes fit properly and that you wear the appropriate shoes for your work and work environment
- Keep your work area clean and your tools in their place
- Keep floor areas clear of unnecessary clutter or loose items that people can accidentally trip over
- Don't take unnecessary risks or cut corners. Use your equipment as specified. Take time to do your job right.
- Report any injury in the foot, toes, ankle or lower leg to your manager or supervisor for necessary first aid. Seek medical attention if further treatment is required. Treatment can require an investment of time. However, proper foot care improves your recovery time and can help keep you on the job.
- Don’t ignore foot pain. Pain is the body’s way of telling you that it is hurt or under stress. Seek medical attention.
Off the job:
- Check your feet frequently for corns, calluses, dry, hard or cracked skin.
- Bathe your feet daily and dry thoroughly. Keep your feet warm.
- Trim your toenails straight across, slightly longer than the end of the toe.
- Prevent foot problems. Remember to discuss your foot care with your medical practitioner as part of your annual health check-up.
- Don’t ignore foot pain. Pain is the body’s way of telling you that it is hurt or under stress. Seek medical attention.
References:
- Australasian Podiatry Council: Feet at Work Public Information Brochure. 2001
- American Podiatric Medical Association: Your podiatric physician talks about on-the-job foot health. http://www.apma.org/topics/job.htm
- Accident Compensation Cooperation: ACC Injury Statistics 2001, Second Edition
- National Occupational Health and Safety Commission: Compendium of Workers’ Compensation Statistics, Australia, 1998-1999. December 2000.
|
 |
|
