Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Jul15

If The Shoe Fits: Cape Robbin Blazin’ Glory Boots Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Cape Robbin Blazin’ Glory Boots Edition

Hiiii everyone! I promised two new editions of If The Shoe Fits yesterday and, as always, Lil Red delivers. During my first shopping experience with Dolls Kill, I ordered beaucoup de hair clips and two new pairs of shoes – some funky boots and an even funkier pair of platforms a la Austin Powers that you will see tomorrow. Be sure to tune in for that and, now, check out these Lil Red Must Haves while blasting this song:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this song or video!

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These absolutely insane Cape Robbin blazin’ glory boots showed up on my adds on Facebook and, damnit, I caved. For forty bucks I couldn’t say no because they had me feeling some type of way TO THE MAX. Part Sonic The Hedgehog, Wonder Woman, and firefighter my new boots combine all things fiery cool but, sadly, do not help me run to the fridge any faster than usual. #buzzkill

Despite that grave disappointment, I could not be happier with this flamin’ hot pair of boots. Actually… that’s a lie, because I could. I assumed that these would be a more combat boot style meaning that they would have a zipper and wouldn’t be straight up rubber. But, assume makes an ass of U and ME and I was kind of like “what?” when I opened the box.

HOWEVER, after the initial shock of the difference of what I was expecting versus what I got, I was still really happy with my purchase. I don’t own any rain boots so these will do nicely for inclement weather purposes and good weather purposes, all the same! I have never seen a pair of shoes like my new Cape Robbin ones before, except for maybe in a cartoon or something. So, needless to say, I am so looking forward to breaking them out.

From splashing in rain puddles, trudging through the snow, or just being worn on a nice day, these boots add instant spice to any look. I’m honestly not sure what I plan on wearing these with because they are pretty random. But, with it still being hot, hot, hot here in Ohio with TONS of rain, these will be perfect paired with knee highs and shorts for a combo that will definitely make me the coolest kid on the block. 😎

How would you style these boots? Where do you score the wackiest pairs of shoes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul14

Clip Clip Hurray!

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Clip Clip Hurray!

Helloooo! I recently discovered the alt clothing site, Dolls Kill, and that is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I had an amazing shoe and accessory haul recently. But, a curse that I didn’t know about the website sooner! Also a blessing because not knowing about the site has certainly saved me money throughout the years. But, a curse too, because the good lord knows I know about it now and all of you will too! Oh what a tangled web we weave.

Did you get all that? lol!

Anywhooo, I have become OBSESSED with hair clips these past few weeks. And, I know exactly what did it. I don’t know if ya’ll have seen this picture of Aubrey Plaza at the premiere for Child’s Play but peep those barrette babies:

LA Premiere of "Child's Play", Los Angeles, USA - 19 Jun 2019

So. Cute.

I saw this picture on Facebook and was instantly in love with the hair clip paying homage to horror films. And, in the comments one of the people said that the website, Dolls Kill, had similar barrettes. So, naturally, I had to cruise on over to the site because Lil Red never says no to online shopping!

Not only did I buy two new gorgeous pairs of shoes, which you guys will see this week on “If The Shoe Fits”, but I also got ALL the hair clips. Take a look:

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Now that my hair is finally getting longer, I just want to play with it! But, unfortunately for me, I suck eggs at doing my hair if I’m not straightening it. So, that’s where these darling new clips come in. Literally all you have to do is is pull back your hair Aubrey Plaza style, clip, and repeat for a cool and edgy look that’s so simple even I can do it.

I will admit, that the clips I purchased looked a whole lot bigger on Dolls Kill’s website than they do in real life and that was disappointing. But these sassy little babies still pack a punch and I’m excited to use them. I can’t say that I would purchase hair accessories from their site again because the difference in size was so great. However, their footwear rocks and I would definitely shop Dolls Kill again for more shoes that I don’t need, for sure.

Who has shopped Dolls Kill before and what were your thoughts? Where can you buy the cutest hair accessories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

Let’s Be Friends!

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Let’s Be Friends!

Hello!! Now, I know a lot of my fellow blogging friends have multiple social media pages but that is just not for Lil Red. I have a slide up LG phone and I like to keep things pretty old school. This means no Twitter, Instagram, or SnapChat because when I’m on the go, I don’t have internet access unless I can connect to it with my iPod touch (Which is primarily used for my music and picture taking purposes).

HOWEVER, I do have a Facebook that I am pretty active on and I encourage all of you to friend me on there at: Sarah Mushenheim. You guys will get sneak previews of photo shoots and pics before it becomes an OOTD post on here and memes… lots and lots of memes! Shoot me a friend request and make sure you send me a message so I know that you are one of my blog readers and enjoy the ridiculousness that is my FB profile!

What is your favorite form of social media? How do you stay relevant on the social media sphere? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Three Ways For New Musicians To Get More Exposure

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Three Ways For New Musicians To Get More Exposure

When you tell people that you want to be a professional musician, a lot of them will probably say that it’s never going to happen. The music industry is so competitive and only a tiny fraction of people that dream of being musicians actually make it, but why shouldn’t you be one of them? You could be, as long as you’re willing to put the work in.

There are a lot of different things that you need to do if you want to break into the music industry but one of the first, and most important steps, is exposure. If you’re going to make it, you need people to hear your music (and love it) so you can start building a bit of a following, that’s how you’re going to get yourself noticed by a record label. Getting that exposure is tough, especially when you’re up against a lot of competition, but there are ways to do it. These are the best ways for new musicians to get exposure for their music:

Focus On Gigging:

There are now more ways than ever to get your music out there and we’ll come onto those later, but for now, you need to focus on the old fashioned way; get out there and play for people. When you’re first starting out and you’ve got a few songs, you need to start playing as many gigs as possible. You’ll get people to hear your music and hopefully, start to build a bit of a fan base in the local area. You’re not likely to get booked for gigs if nobody has heard of you so open mic nights are the best place to start. They’re always running so do a quick search for open mic near me and start playing. You’ll get to play one or two songs and hopefully, if people like you, then you might be able to start booking more regular gigs.

The next step, is to get some support slots playing with more popular local bands. This is a great way to get your music heard by fans of your genre and if you play well, they’ll become fans of yours too.

Soundcloud:

Soundcloud is one of the best places to put your recordings so people can discover them. It’s also important that you have music online so if people come to your gigs and like you, they can download some of your songs to listen to and share with their friends. There’s a lot of stuff on Soundcloud so you need to do things to make yourself stand out. Obviously writing good songs is the most important thing but you should also ensure that you have good production values, as well.

Social Media:

Social media is the best way to promote pretty much anything these days and music is no exception. Start a dedicated musician page where you can post links to all of your new tracks when they go up on Soundcloud. You can also promote any gigs that you’re doing so you can get a bigger crowd to the venue. Look at other bands and artists on social media to see how they promote themselves, their gigs, and new music. For example, established bands, such as SWMRS with drummer Joey Armstrong have long been using social media to promote themselves successfully.

These are the three best ways to promote your music when you’re first starting out and they should help you to build a following in your local area!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jul12

Five Tips For Planning A Safe And Comfortable Event

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Five Tips For Planning A Safe And Comfortable Event

Pulling off a successful event, whether it is the big game, the hottest musical act, or trendiest trade show requires incredible attention to detail and a lot of logistical planning. However, of all the components that are required to achieve success, few are more important than preparing for the safety and comfort of all who are in attendance.

If you have been tasked with arranging the next performance, conference, or retreat for your company, let these four event planning tips help you along the way. From selecting reliable emergency equipment for east coast to making sure there are enough restrooms available, this guide is sure to make your job a bit easier:

1. Select the Right Venue

You may not have a lot of choice in the venue your event will be held at, but endeavor to find a facility that is designed for the number of attendees that you expect. To ensure the comfort of the guests, there should be ample room for seating, conference room tables, networking, and dining. The venue can truly make or break an event and is something that should be considered carefully. If you are struggling to find an appropriate venue, don’t settle. Consider the services of an event planner or incentive travel companies that can assist in these arrangements for a successful event.

2. Properly Accommodate Needs

To keep people happy and attentive requires meeting their basic needs. If your venue does not have enough restrooms, shelter, or necessary lodging, you will need to supply them. Instead of managing a disgruntled crowd, look to mobile units instead for an easy solution to an age-old problem. You can also look into photo booth rentals in London for your next event, if applicable, as a way to foster engagement and provide attendees with a fun and memorable experience, even in a professional setting. Other entertainment options will help encourage networking and create a more dynamic atmosphere too.

Remember, you will want the furnishing you choose for seating guests to enhance the atmosphere of the event. A more posh gathering might require renting designer chairs as opposed to the basic options that would be appropriate for a family reunion. This is all important to consider to keep your guests comfortable and happy.

3. Food and Drink:

Hosting an event whether it be for work or play is going to require a menu as your attendees are going to get hungry! This could be as simple as some light appetizers and finger food or as elaborate as a five course meal. To meet food and safety requirements, hiring a team like a business lunch caterer or a chef and wait staff will be necessary. Before prepping a menu with your caterer, be sure to find out any allergies, sensitivities, or dietary restrictions your attendees have to make the meal enjoyable for all.

4. Train Your Staff

Though safety has always been a priority when large groups of people are gathered together, it is on everyone’s mind in this day and age. Taking the time to properly train all staff to handle emergencies and unexpected disturbances is key to establishing a secure environment.

5. Communicate Roles and Responsibilities

Every team needs a proper chain of command, and your event staff is no exception. Well before the big day, be clear about the roles and responsibilities of all participants and clarify how they should efficiently and effectively communicate with one another.

Follow the tips above for a smooth day on your big event!

Jul12

City Escape OOTD

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City Escape OOTD

Hello hello and welcome to a new OOTD post here on lifewithlilred! A week or so ago, I enjoyed exploring downtown Akron’s Lock 3 park with my friend Markus, who helps me take pictures for the ol’ blog. Lock 3 is a cool place where summertime concerts happen and an ice skating rink that I love going to is put up in the winter. The bar scene surrounding it isn’t bad, either!

Markus and I hit the pavement to take some pics and just have fun so check it out, enjoy, and read on to find out how I styled this OOTD:

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Who? What? Wear?

Styling summer outfits can be difficult, especially if you’re like me and you always want to go all out with your OOTDs. But, sometimes that’s just not feasible with the extreme heat. Although Markus and I took the pictures seen above in the evening, it was still hot as hell so this is definitely one of my more “basic” looks. I was still really feeling myself, however, because I made sure to follow a few simple rules:

1. Let it flow:

To me, there is nothing more boring than jeans and a t-shirt so if you want to add some visual interest to an outfit, then let it flow. Wear a top or bottom with movement to it and it will instantly add that little something something to any outfit. The billowy sleeves on my Japna top are not only fun, but it certainly gave a nice breeze to my upper half because the fabric wasn’t vacuum sealed to my body.

2. Legs for dayz:

Shorts are necessary in the summer and you can keep it simple or, you can pull a Sarah and go all out with some heels. But, you can’t wear just any heels with shorts. If you want to create some body magic for an illusion of legs for dayz, you must be mindful of what kind of straps are on your shoe.

If the heel must be strapped, make sure that it is a slingback so that there are no lines cutting off the flow from your feet to your hips. This will create the perfect leggy length, even if you’re a vertically challenged chick, like myself. Mules are an excellent way to go to avoid any kinks in your length, which is why I went with my Betsey Johnson pair. Embroidered flowers, a black and white striped heel, and super model style legs? Bye bye, boring!

3. Beat the heat:

I am both pale and extra enough that I have absolutely no problem carrying around my goth Princess Peach style parasol. I hate getting tan, I hate getting burnt, and I hate being hotter than I have to be when it comes to being outdoors. Not only does the parasol add length to my look because it’s not stopping at the tip of my head but it also makes the OOTD a lot more interesting. When it doubt, accessorize, and the outfit will become much more exciting to look at.

We all know that Lil Red thrives when it comes to fall fashion. But, summer has always been a challenge for me. So, I follow the steps above for looks that don’t thrill me as much as my fall OOTDs but certainly help keep me cool in the heat while still being fashion forward. Creating outfits that make someone’s eyes dance when they look at you is the name of the game and I think that my City Escape OOTD definitely achieved that!

How do you style OOTDs to keep yourself cool in? How do you add visual interest to your looks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

Activities To Help You Unwind After Your Wedding Day

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Activities To Help You Unwind After Your Wedding Day

Weddings are truly busy and stressful, considering what the couple has to go through just to make sure that one special day goes smoothly. But after all that is done and the vows have been accepted, you as a couple deserve to have your own time and moments together to enjoy the finer things in life as husband and wife. Sure, there’s the mandatory honeymoon, but there’s much more you can do that will surely help your mind and body recover from all the stress and strain of wedding preparations:

Relax and Unwind:

It goes without saying that you need to rest your body first since you have a whole life ahead of you. All that time and effort looking for suppliers and managing the event to make sure that it all goes well can give you a lot of stress. After the wedding is your opportunity to enjoy your well-deserved relaxation time.

There are many possibilities on what you can do, such as get a facial treatment in Manila, go to a beach or resort, or go enjoy the beauty of nature by hiking or mountain climbing. These will surely help you to relax and enjoy quality time with your new spouse.

Reap the Benefits:

One of the things that you’ll get from your wedding is gifts and lots of them. These presents are oftentimes given to help the bride and groom with their start on married life. Home appliances are common choices and are very helpful because you won’t need to go shopping for them.

Some people also gift their newly married friends and relatives with discount vouchers or tickets for them to use on a cruise or a fancy restaurant. Don’t hesitate to use them, especially if they have expiration dates. These presents are meant for you to enjoy and use to your advantage as the married life will present you with new challenges every single day.

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Go on Get-Togethers:

You’ve only just accomplished a monumental event in your life that was full of hectic plans and schedules, so you may think that it’s best not to go out for a while. However, your family and friends are still part of your life, and you’ll need all the help you can get from them. The occasional get-together will be good for letting them know how well you’re doing after the nuptials as well as strengthen the bond between in-laws. You can do it either at home or in places such as restaurants or hotels.

Living the married life will surely put a lot on your plate, may it be good or bad. But what’s important is for you to focus on what’s positive and expect to face the bad times together with your partner. Your relationship doesn’t end once the wedding day is over; instead, it’s the start of a lifelong journey with the best partner in life you’ll ever have. So, take the time to relish that moment and unwind!

Jul11

How To Make The Most Of Your Family’s First Winter Getaway

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How To Make The Most Of Your Family’s First Winter Getaway

Winter can be magical, especially for those who’ll be experiencing it for the first time. If you’re planning on having your first winter vacation, it’s best to come prepared and also to make all the necessary arrangements beforehand. That said, we’ll be taking a look at tips to help you better prepare your first winter getaway:

The Transportation:

There’s nothing worse than having your trip cancelled before it even began. If you’re planning on going to your snowy destination through a series of air and land transportation, it’s best to purchase the tickets beforehand and don’t leave things to chance. Not only would buying your tickets be cheaper, but it would ensure that you have guaranteed seats.

And, if you’re planning on driving towards your destination, make sure that your car undergoes a tune-up to lessen the risk of it breaking down in the middle of the road. Oftentimes, you can bring your car to the dealership you purchased from like Medina GM Automall (or a similar one in your local area) to provide service to your vehicle. As safety is paramount, you could also consider leasing a vehicle that is more appropriate for the weather to drive to your destination. If you do plan on bringing your car (or renting an RV to serve as your transportation and your accommodation), make sure to bring an ice scraper or shovel, as snow can pile up on and around your vehicle very quickly.

The Accommodation:

As with transportation, the earlier you book your accommodation, the better — especially if you’re planning your vacation during peak seasons. This guarantees you lower prices and that you have a roof over your head. Apart from early booking, it’s just as crucial for you to consider where you’ll be staying. Don’t skimp on accommodation, choose someplace that has excellent amenities and can keep you warm — your family will thank you later, especially after they’ll be experiencing the snow and cold air for the first time. Popular choices would be cabins, condos, and even homes for rent, but you can also rent an RV with good heating. If you are considering renting a home, simply enter a search for “Vacation home rental agency Broken Bow, OK” (or where you are traveling to) to begin exploring your options.

If you find that a wintertime getaway suits your family, you might want to consider more permanent options at your favorite destination. For example, you could research how much is the average timeshare per month in that location so you always have a home away from home ready for you.

The Activities:

There are many activities your family can partake in for your first winter vacation, from simple snowball fights and snowman building to more active activities such as skiing, snowboarding, or even snowmobile riding. If you plan on taking up the latter activities, it’s important that you make a reservation beforehand, and it would be a good idea to hire a guide or trainer to help you and the kids learn how to ski properly or for you to safely and properly use the snowmobiles. If you think skiing would, later on, become something that you or your family would repeatedly enjoy in the future, you might want to consider buying quality ski equipment, such as Nordica women’s skis for your wife or daughter.

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The Clothing and Apparel:

Lastly, you’ll want to invest in winter clothing. The last thing you’d want to happen is for you to freeze or get sick from the cold by not wearing the right winter clothing and apparel. There are many guides out there to help you out in packing up your winter clothing, and all of them would point to one thing: layers. Make sure that you all have many layers to keep your family dry and warm, but just enough that you can still comfortably move and enjoy your winter activities. It’s also important that you don’t skimp out on boots, gloves, and head protection. And, if you plan on skiing, make sure that you also buy or rent skiing or snowboarding goggles.

Your first winter vacation should be just as magical as your kids imagine it and, with these simple tips, you’re one step closer to making that a reality. So make sure that you plan and prepare for your trip to get the most out of it. Enjoy!

Jul11

Pricing Your Products The Right Way

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Pricing Your Products The Right Way

Much has been said about gaining the trust of your customers. You need to have great branding efforts and your marketing materials should be engaging enough to draw them in. However, building trust goes beyond all of these. You need to show that your brand is genuinely caring – that you will always provide them with products and services whenever they need them. You shall act as a friendly advisor. On top of these promises, you have to be fair. Fairness is among the values that establishes the foundation of customer relationships. One way of exemplifying fairness is through pricing the products the right way.

Many business people, though they are genuinely caring, often make the mistake of putting up a high price tag. Your goal is to earn profit, but that does not mean that you will not be transparent with your dealings. You just don’t give prices without any basis. There are a lot of factors that come into play. Here are some of them:

Gauge the market:

The market shall always be your compass when determining the prices of your product. Just look at your competitors. They may be offering the same products and services, and you have to know how much they are charging. By simply looking at this factor will allow you to play the game with your ear. If you charge too much, your customers will go to your competitors. When your prices are too low, there will be risk of overwhelming demands, which in turn may compromise the quality of your offerings. Find the middle ground and take it from there. You can use various price monitoring tools in this case for guidance.

Consider your costs:

Sometimes, you will need to look at your own resources and production to gauge how much you are going to charge. You need to have a breakeven and even get your ROI. Otherwise, you will experience loss, which is not a good thing. Take into account other factors besides product development and manufacturing and include overheads, such as rent, staff salary, and marketing in your list. If you are having difficulty breaking even due to a struggle with efficiency, software services like PLM can assist with task management and production. Tools like this could be the game changer your business needs to experience meaningful growth.

Indeed, the creation of products on top of paying employees and day to day costs can really add up. This is why spending wisely in the production phase needs to happen. For example, do you know about aluminum prototype machining? This creates functional prototypes for your products with aluminum alloy and can provide a base to test and modify your new wares before mass production. Tools like this can ensure the functionality of your product while saving you money on potential problems that have been solved through the testing phase.

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Talk to your customers:

Before you release or launch a new product, you have to talk to your customers first. Find out if they are willing to spend their money for the product or service you are releasing. You can conduct a survey or a focus group discussion to make this prospect easy. You can also streamline the process with online services like the Kano Model that can be employed to give you more insight into the customer experience.

Look at the economy:

You will also have to look at what the economy does to various industries. The effects of macroeconomic activities trickle down to businesses. They affect the prices of raw materials and manufacturing services. The price of your products should depend on the costs you incur at a specific economic phase.

The price is right, that should be the guiding principle you follow when deciding on the price tags of your product. When you price the products right, you are showing your commitment to being transparent and building trust. Pricing the products the right way should not be difficult, as there will always be methods and tools that will help you.

Jul11

Workplace Safety: Injuries And Prevention

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Workplace Safety: Injuries And Prevention

Workplace safety should be an utmost priority for all businesses and operations, as it can significantly affect a company or organization’s most essential asset, its workforce, and can subsequently stifle productivity and have financial consequences. According to the National Safety Council, one worker is injured every seven seconds at work, about 4.6 million workers are injured on the job per year, and a total of 104 million production days are lost due to workplace injuries.

To make your workplace safer, it’s not enough to comply with health and safety regulations; one must be wary of the common workplace injuries to take the necessary steps to prevent them. It’s important to remember that if accidents do happen, either to yourself or a colleague, it would be best to speak with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys so that the proper legal process can be followed to cover your injuries. Of course it would be best if nobody got injured in the first place though, so let’s take a look at these injuries and the preventive measures you can take to help your workforce avoid them:

Slips, Trips, and Falls:

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), slips, trips, and falls constitute 25.8% of all work-related injuries. Despite these being quite common, preventing these types of injuries is quite easy and straightforward. Good housekeeping can address the issues of slipping and tripping; your workplace should minimize any clutter on the floor to avoid tripping over them and any spills should be immediately cleaned up. Reputable commercial cleaning companies can also be a major help when it comes to spills and clearing clutter. To avoid falls, elevated platforms should have railings and ladders should be installed or placed on solid, even surfaces.

Contact with Objects and Equipment:

The next most common (26%) workplace injury is contact with objects, machinery, and equipment. There are numerous ways for one to be injured by workplace equipment: one’s limbs or clothing can be caught up in gears and moving parts, an employee can be struck by heavy equipment, or collapsing structures or packages could fall on anyone below it. As such, it’s important for one to properly stack and store objects, ensuring that the heavier objects are stored at the base. Workers should be extra careful and wary of moving equipment and objects to avoid getting struck or get caught by moving components. Everyone in the workplace and those operating machinery should wear proper protective gear and equipment to ensure their safety. This can include gloves, safety glasses, and heavy boots. Should you already wear glasses, these ansi Z87+ prescription safety glasses will assure safety as well as clear vision. Regular maintenance and inspection of equipment is also crucial to identify hazards before they cause harm. Employers must ensure that all workers receive comprehensive training on machine safety and emergency procedures.

You should also ensure that all employees are well versed in an established lifting plan to maximize safety when using machinery. These plans should be updated as needed and the team will need to be notified with any changes. Keep safety at the forefront with pop quizzes, meetings, and reminders.

Overexertion:

Overexertion, according to the NSC, ranks as the most common workplace injury (33.54%). Overexertion happens through repetitive motion or poor posture when lifting or lowering heavy objects. Hence, your employees should be duly trained on how to properly lift and transport heavy objects and also allow your workforce to take short breaks in between heavy labor. Alternatively, your business or company can provide your workforce with equipment or vehicles such as hand trucks and forklifts to make lifting and transporting easier and significantly reduce the risk of overexertion.

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Other Common Injuries:

The other common injuries that end up forcing your workers to require a few days off from work are sprains and tears (from heavy physical activities), neck and back soreness (from sitting too long or from poor posture), and cuts, lacerations, and punctures (from contact with sharp objects in the workplace). These injuries can easily be avoided as well by maintaining proper posture, ensuring correct handling of equipment, wearing appropriate PPE, and being mindful of one’s surroundings.

Workplace injuries are common, and even with all of the preventive measures, safety equipment, and trainings, there’s always the risk of accidents and injuries no matter how small. It’s important for your company or business to have either on-site health professionals, first aid kits and staff that are trained in first aid in case of accidents, or at least orthopedics or occupational medicine physicians on call in case of any accidents in your workplace.