Your feet bear the brunt of your daily working life. The average person walks the equivalent of five times around the earth in a lifetime, and each step can exert up to two times your body weight through your lower limbs. Prolonged standing, walking, operating machinery, high heels, carrying heavy objects and slippery surfaces are just some of the dangers the feet are exposed to in the workplace every day.
Every year, it is estimated that over 2 million sick days are lost due to complaints and disorders in the lower limbs. However many of these sick days can be prevented. Studies show that about 80 percent of adults will experience some foot complaints during their lifetime. This can vary from aches and pains, swelling, corns, calluses, injuries, fungal infections, varicose veins, leg ulcers and much more. Now these common foot problems occur both on and off the job. However, there is no doubt that some work-related factors can lead to or aggravate foot problems, especially in jobs that require long periods of standing, walking or that put the feet at risk.
It is recommended that workers spend no more than 30 percent of their working day standing, especially without a break. However there are many jobs where workers stand for much longer periods. Workers who are required to spend too much time on their feet are at increased risk of pain and discomfort around their feet, ankles, legs, hips and lower back. Standing for long hours, day after day, not only tires the worker's feet but can also cause permanent damage. Continuous standing can cause the joints and bones of the feet to become misaligned, causing flat feet; inflammation that can later lead to arthritis; and damage to the veins in the legs leading to pain, swelling, varicose veins and even ulcers. Prolonged standing can damage joints, causing swelling of the legs, and result in a range of problems for the feet, including bunions and corns and heel spurs.
Work site accidents also result in a significant number of injuries to the feet and lower legs including sprains, strains and fractures. Foot injuries account for between 15 to 20 percent of all disabling injuries. While not all of these are the result of work activities, a large proportion occur due to the conditions feet are exposed to at work.
Our feet are exposed to many dangers at work and like every other danger, the risk can be avoided or removed if employees and employers take simple straightforward steps to protect the feet at work.
1. Wear the right shoes for work: Workers should wear the shoes that are appropriate to their occupation, working environment, and foot type. Improper footwear can cause or aggravate existing foot problems. Footwear that fits poorly or is in need of repair also contributes to foot discomfort. Prolonged standing, hard flooring and inappropriate footwear are very common working conditions that cause pain and injury.
If safety or special footwear is required for the job (e.g. steel toe boots) employers must ensure that employees have the correct shoes and are not allowed to work without them. In many work sites such equipment are supplied by the employer at no cost to the worker.
High heels are the favorite work footwear for many women but should not be. They throw the body weight onto the balls of the feet, which may lead to calluses, painful bunions, corns, neuromas, foot and often back pains. The position of the foot in narrow-width high heels can cause the ankle to become unstable, resulting in ankle sprains also.
Wearing high-heels for long periods may cause the calf muscles to become shortened and tight over time. The body compensates for this tightness in the calf-muscles by lowering the arch of the foot, or by affecting the knee, hip or back. Backless (sling backs) shoes force your toes to claw as you walk, straining the muscles of the toes if worn over a long period. To prevent this, keep heel heights to about two inches for everyday use.
Calf stretches help to keep the feet flexible and maintain a good range of motion to the ankle joint. Vary your heel heights from day to day, one day wearing low heels, and the next day slightly higher heels. Wearing shoes with a strap or lace over the instep is better than slip-ons because they will improve the fit and help stop your foot from sliding forward in your shoes. Comfortable, well structured, sensible and properly fitted footwear is essential to maintain good foot health and prevent minor foot ailments and injuries at work.
2. Choose the best shoes for work: It is important to ensure that the safety shoe is appropriate for the task for which it is intended. The upper should be made from natural materials such as leather or a breathable man-made fabric. The toe box or front of the shoes should be rounded or squared and deep enough to prevent rubbing, allowing the toes to be free to wriggle. Insoles can be inserted to provide padding and shock absorption.
The heel counter (back of the shoe) should fit snugly on the foot, stopping the heel from slipping out of the shoe. The heel should have a broad base and be no higher than two inches if they are worn for a long time. The sole of the shoe should be thick, strong and flexible with shock absorption to cushion the jolts of walking on hard surfaces. Laces, buckles or velcro can be used to secure the foot in the shoe.
3. Foot safe work floors: In addition to the footwear, the work surfaces also have an impact on the feet at work. Hard, unyielding floors, like concrete, are the least comfortable surfaces to work on. Working on such hard floors is like having a hammer, pounding the heel at every step. Wood, cork, carpeting or rubber - anything that provides some flexibility - is gentler on workers' feet.
Footwear with thick, insulating soles and shock-absorbing insoles like rubber can alleviate discomfort. Slippery floors are hazardous resulting in slips and falls, ankle sprains or even broken bones. Employers need to make sure that floors are kept clean and dry with non skid anti-slip flooring or matting can reduce slipping accidents.
4. Prevent work place injuries: Most occupations have different footwear requirements but in almost all of them, there is a need for well-fitting, supportive shoe and guidelines for safe floor surfaces. Such guidelines should be followed at all times to prevent injuries in the work place.
Being physically fit can also prevent injury to your feet at work. To keep the feet healthy, it is necessary to compensate for long standing or working in a stationary position by performing simple exercises that can ever be performed at work. They may include contracting and relaxing the calf muscles, flexing and straightening the ankles and knees as well as squatting in place. It is also useful to walk or move every hour to encourage blood flow to the leg and prevent swelling to.
We spend so much time at work, it should be a place where everyone can perform their duties in a safe and comfortable environment, where foot injuries are prevented. Remember, foot pain is not normal, it is an indication that something is wrong. If you have foot pain, or an injury to your feet at work, see a podiatrist for a complete exam and treatment.
o For more information visit www.foothealthfacts.org or email us at foothealth242@gmail.com. To see a podiatrist visit Bahamas Foot Centre on Rosetta Street or call 325-2996 for an appointment or Bahamas Surgical Associates Centre on Albury Lane or call 394-5820 or Lucayan Medical Centre Freeport Grand Bahama or call 373-7400 for an appointment today.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
