Burnout Can Impact Workers from Head to Toe
Providing workers with proper foot protection should be a moral obligation.
- By Dr. Kevan Orvitz
- Apr 01, 2022
Over the past two years, the global Covid-19 crisis has continued to teach us about ourselves, communities, workplace and humanity. Despite the unpredictable obstacles thrown at every industry and workplace, frontline workers continue to be a consistent source of reliability and strength for every community.
Entering 2022, it was abundantly clear that successful companies must be proactive to retain employees and boost morale. Understandably, frontline workers are fatigued and burnt out. They are working longer hours, in addition to heightened demands at home.
According to the World Health Organization, workplace stress that persists without successful management can lead to burnout syndrome. It is broken down into three categories:
- Feeling exhausted
- Increased negativity or emotional distance from one’s job
- Reduced productivity
Year over year, since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the American workplace has seen increased burnout. Prior to the pandemic, burnout was a hot topic seen in numerous industries, but now more than ever, it is jeopardizing the future of big and small businesses across the country.
Hazards Ahead
One thing has become crystal clear in the Covid-19 pandemic: expect the unexpected. Knowing that the road ahead is unpredictable can give managers and business owners the foresight to work proactively to keep employees safe, engaged and productive.
First, it’s important to analyze the role and daily procedures each employee undergoes. Is their job repetitive? Does it require lifting? Are they standing all day on hard and uneven floors? If their role requires increased physical action, are they being provided with the care, support, and comfort to do their job safely and efficiently?
Analyzing the tasks of each worker can help management identify ergonomic hazards experienced in their workforce. For example, force is a common ergonomic hazard. Imagine a delivery driver, each stop requires lifting various sized packages. These heavy external loads generate internal muscular contractions which lead to high levels of stress within the joints and place greater compression on the spine. Sedentary workers still experience this hazard in a manner that everyone can relate to. Prolonged sitting increases stress within the spine, and simply walking on the ground leads to an exertion of force that is, based on our footwear and reactive forces.
This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.