Roadway Safety: Strains and Sprains
Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America
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Roadway Safety
The following are links to all of the items in this collection:
Documents
- Roadway Safety: Run Overs & Back Overs
- Roadway Safety: Operator Safety
- Roadway Safety: Struck or Crushed
- Roadway Safety: Flagger Safety
- Roadway Safety: Night Work
- Roadway Safety: Excavation
- Roadway Safety: Electrical hazards
- Roadway Safety: Strains and Sprains
- Roadway Safety: Fall Hazards
- Roadway Safety Awareness Program: Trainee Booklet
- Roadway Safety: Instructor Manual
- Roadway Safety: Working outdoors
- Roadway Safety: Noise Hazards
- Roadway Safety: Health Hazards
- Roadway Safety: Emergencies
Summary Statement
A handout describing the most common musculoskeletal hazards in road work and how to avoid them. Part of a collection. Click on the 'collection' button to access the other items.
| This document is one in a program produced under an OSHA grant by a consortium of the Laborers' Health and Safety Fund N.A, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the American Road and Transportation Builders Assn, and the National Asphalt Pavement Assn. All of the documents from this set that are on eLCOSH can be found by clicking on Job Site, Heavy construction, and scrolling to the Street & highway heading. Or to download a complete version of the computerized program, go to https://www.workzonesafety.org/. |
Injuries can happen once or can accumulate.
Common sprain/strain injuries in road work
Hand/Wrist Problems |
Back Injuries |
Sprains, Strains, Overexertion |
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 |
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43% of lost work day injuries in roadway construction are sprains/strains
What Causes These Injuries?
Think of the most difficult parts of your job.
These injuries may be caused by
- Working in awkward postures such as raking asphalt
- Handling heavy materials like in concrete formwork
- Repetitive work like rebar tying and operating a joystick
- Using vibrating tools like a pavement breaker
- Whole body vibration for operators
How Can We Avoid Sprains and Strains?
Think of ways to do the job differently.
Work can be made easier
- Minimize manual materials handling with dollies, hoists, other equipment
- Better job planning (deliver materials where they're used)
- Store materials for easy access
- Use tools that are comfortable, easy to handle
- Wear PPE like kneepads and shoulder pads
- Take breaks when possible, rotate difficult and easier tasks
What Can You Do to Prevent Injuries?
Do at least some of these measures.
To prevent injuries
- Plan and maintain a clear, level walking path
- Don't lift too much by yourself, get help
- Use proper lifting technique, lift with your legs not your back when possible
- Avoid working in awkward postures
- Do stretching exercises before work
- Keep fit
