This Causes 90% of all Workplace Injuries (Easily avoided)

Workplace injuries can be a severe concern for employers and employees alike. According to statistics, around 4.6 million workplace injuries occur each year in the United States, leading to lost productivity, increased medical costs, and even fatalities.

What may surprise you is that the most significant cause of these injuries is not slips, trips, or falls, but rather something much more insidious: stress.

Finding Low Stress Jobs (and what happens if you don’t)

Stress is a silent enemy that can wreak havoc on workplaces everywhere.

From lengthy hours to arguing with colleagues, these little things add up and create a dangerous cocktail of tension and built-up frustration. In response to such stressors our bodies release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which increase heart rate, blood pressure, and activate a ‘fight-or-flight’ mechanism within us as if we were under attack.

This impairs productivity and takes an emotional toll on our bodies, leading to physical and mental fatigue, decreased focus, and eventually compounding the risk of workplace injuries.

The best way to avoid workplace injuries due to stress is to find a job that suits your individual needs. Low stress jobs are life savers.

The 5 Best Low Stress Jobs, Ranked

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the lowest-stress jobs are as follows:

  • 1. Hair Stylist – A great way to be creative and work with people in an upbeat environment.
  • 2. Audiologist – Help improve the lives of those with hearing impairments.
  • 3. Dietitian/Nutritionist – Help people make healthier lifestyle choices.
  • 4. Mathematician – Solve challenging, theoretical problems.
  • 5. University professor (tenured):  Teach and mentor students in an academic setting.

None of these jobs are easy to come by, but they share a common ethos: a focus on helping others, improving the world, and finding creative solutions to everyday problems.

The more abstract your job is – and doesn’t have a sense of purpose – the more likely it is to be stressful. So if you’re looking for a job that won’t lead to workplace injuries, focus on finding something that allows you to make a positive impact.

 90% of all Workplace Injuries Are Caused by Stress

Prolonged exposure to stress hormones can have serious consequences for our health.

Chronic stress has been linked to a variety of physical and mental health problems, including heart disease, obesity, anxiety, and depression. It can also lead to decreased immune function, making us more susceptible to illness and infection.

So, how does stress lead to workplace injuries? The answer is twofold. First, when we are stressed, we are more likely to make mistakes. We may be more forgetful, distracted, or fatigued, leading to accidents and injuries. Second, stress can affect our physical abilities and coordination. This can increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls, among the most common workplace injuries.

Do This to Reduce Stress at Your Current Job

You can take a few simple steps to reduce stress at your current job.

First, make sure you have proper work-life balance. Take regular breaks, get enough sleep, and make time for yourself.

Second, try meditation. Sam Harris, author of the book Waking Up, suggests “learning to observe your thoughts and emotions without reacting to them.” This can help you stay focused and calm.

Third, find an activity that you enjoy and make time for it every week. This can be anything from yoga or running to playing an instrument or painting. If you aren’t willingly extinguishing stress from your life, it won’t just disappear.

Finally, talk to a therapist if needed. Stress can be overwhelming and hard to manage on your own. A therapist can help provide the tools and support you need to make significant changes in how you cope with stress.

A Final Thought

Stress is a major factor in 90% of all workplace injuries and is why taking simple steps to reduce it can help you stay safe and productive at work.

Find a job that suits your individual needs, make sure you have proper work-life balance, practice meditation, set aside time for activities that you enjoy, and consider talking to a therapist if needed. Doing these things regularly will help keep stress levels low and reduce the risk of workplace injuries.  

So make sure to prioritize self-care, it could save your job and even your life.