Occupational Injuries in North Palm Beach

North Palm Beach, a growing area in Palm Beach County, employed just over 6,000 residents in 2018. But with employment on the rise, more and more Palm Beachers are being injured at work daily. And unfortunately, occupational accidents are not rare in any town in Florida.

In fact, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida’s workplace fatalities rose from a rate of 2.7 for every 1,000 full-time workers to 3.1 for every 1,000 workers in 2018. With the workforce growing, let's take a look at the most common occupation injuries employees face in North Palm Beach.

Injury by Occupation Statistics

In recent years, employment in North Palm Beach grew from 5,838 employees to 6,003 employees. With a population of 12,581, that means that almost half of all North Palm Beach residents are heading to work each morning. A hub of industry, dining, and residential homes, there's a wide variety of occupations within North Palm Beach's borders.

According to DataUSA, the most common industries in North Palm Beach by number of employees are healthcare and social assistance; professional, scientific, tech services; and retail trade. While these occupations may not seem as dangerous as a trade such as construction at first glance, workplace injuries are still very present.

Healthcare and Social Assistance Injuries

The top three occupations in the healthcare and social assistance sector are registered nurses, personal care aides, and nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides. Critical to keeping the residents of North Palm Beach healthy, nurses and aides provide vital service in private and public hospitals, home-care situations, and private and public medical clinics.

On average, these employees put in 42.5 hours per week at work, but are frequently punching in overtime hours. Unfortunately, healthcare workers are also at risk of suffering many different types of harm on the job. A physically and mentally demanding job, workers can be injured by a variety of people or things they encounter or duties they preform on a daily basis.

Common injuries for those within the healthcare and social assistance space include:

• Overextertion/Repetitive Stress Injuries: According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), healthcare workers are more than seven times likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders. Repeating motions over and over again can place a lot of strain on the body, which ultimately results in injuries.
• Slip and Falls: If water or liquids are spilled on the floor of a hospital or nursing home, employees are susceptible to falling on the slick surface. In fact, slip and falls are the most common workplace injuries in all fields.
• Patient Handling Activities: Employees often manually lift patients as they are transferred to different rooms or are repositioned. This can cause muscle strains, sprains, or even herniated discs.

Professional, Scientific, and Tech Service Injuries

Software developers, system and application software technicians, and other office workers make up the professional, scientific, and tech service employment. These individuals spend most of their days sedentary at a desk without proper office ergonomics.

Office workers are at a high risk of developing injuries, as this sedentary lifestyle can wreak havoc on the spine. Common injuries for those within this office space include:

• Repetitive Strain Injury: This is caused by a variety of tasks, such as forceful or repetitive activity, or poor posture. The condition mostly affects parts of the upper body, such as the forearm, elbow, wrist, hands, shoulders, and neck.
• Musculoskeletal Disorders: Keeping the body in an awkward or unnatural position, such as in an office chair, can force the body into an unnatural and harmful posture. Overtime, this can result in musculoskeletal disorders, such as low back injuries, tendinitis, and muscle strains.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Frequently using the hands and fingers to type, write, or perform other duties can cause tendinitis or bursitis in the hand. This can narrow the carpal tunnel and lead to carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, including pain, inflammation, and restricted range of motion.

Retail Trade Injuries

Approximately 10.4 percent of North Palm Beach residents work in retail trade. Typically, these individuals hold positions such as retail salespersons, cashiers, and supervisors. One thing all of these roles have in common is how frequently they must be on their feet; as salespersons and cashiers, standing or walking is a critical component of the job.

In addition to walking, employees must also bend and lift products to and from shelves, as well as repeatedly package items for sale, including bagging or boxing goods. Common injuries for those within retail trade include:

• Muscle Strains and Sprains: If you are employed in a retail position, some of your duties may include stocking shelves, managing the stock room, and lifting heavy objects. Improper lifting combined with the pressure placed your back and legs can cause muscle strains.
• Stress Injuries: From bending to scanning, retail work is often very repetitive. Overtime, the stress from repetitive motions can lead to bigger problems in the wrists, shoulders, and spine.
• Muscles Aches: Being on your feet constantly - especially when not in proper footwear - can cause pain in the back of the legs and lower back. This dull muscle ache can continue for days, weeks, or even months, and can become chronic when left untreated.

Who Can Help with North Palm Beach Workplace Injuries?

In North Palm Beach, a shocking majority of workplace injuries revolve around the musculoskeletal system. Consisting of all bones, tissue, and nerves of the body, this system is what keeps us upright and in motion. However, our occupations as well as workplace accidents can cause severe harm to this essential system.

So, who can help with musculoskeletal injuries? A North Palm Beach chiropractor. Chiropractors are highly educated in all matters of the musculoskeletal system, from the bones that structure our body to the muscles which support them, and all of the nerves that run along them. When pain strikes in your body, a chiropractor is trained to identify the source and safely and effectively remove it, minimizing recovery time and letting you get back to work.

Given the wide variety of occupational and non-work related injuries in the area, a chiropractor in North Palm Beach uses a variety of chiropractic therapies to effectively treat aches, pains, and inflammation. Some of the treatments offered at ChiroCare of Florida's Office include:

• Chiropractic Adjustments
• Electrical Stimulation
• Ultrasound Therapy
• Therapeutic Exercises
• Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape
• Graston Technique®
• Postural Correction

These soothing and inflammation-reducing therapies reduce the effects of pain felt from occupational injuries. Plus, working with a chiropractor in North Palm Beach allows you to strengthen the body and muscles against future injuries. Especially for those in the office space, and even those frequently on their feet, understanding proper posture, postural correction, and proper stretching can reduce the stress placed on the body, resulting in a much safer and more comfortable workplace experience.

At ChiroCare of Florida, your health and safety is our top priority. If you're a North Palm Beach resident, now is the time to visit a chiropractor in North Palm Beach. Contact us today to make your appointment.