Manual labor jobs can be lucrative and rewarding, but they also come with some inherent risks. Hundreds of thousands of work-related injuries take place every year, and many of these accidents can be avoided with a little foresight. If you are getting ready to start a physically demanding job, then here are a few steps you can take to keep yourself healthy and productive.

Start Training Immediately

Employees should try to get to a baseline level of fitness well before they start a manual labor job. Carrying out a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercises will help you stay physical and active throughout the day. Once you have started your job, you should still think about sticking to a strength training routine at least a few days a week to prevent the lopsided development of certain muscle groups. Staying fit will also help prevent you from getting injured. You won’t tear muscles so easily by exerting yourself and you’ll be capable of taking on a heavier load—if required—without it being too much of a strain on you. Keeping in shape for the purpose of performing well on job will also prove to your bosses that you’re dedicated to your job. Not only that, but they’ll be more confident in you and know that you can handle anything that they throw your way.

Don't Neglect Your Safety Equipment

Using safety gear often feels like a hassle, but that equipment is there for a reason. Even if you think that the safety gear is unnecessary, failing to use it could actually affect your rights if an injury takes place. If the company can prove that you were not using the safety gear or that you were using it incorrectly, then they might refuse to offer you compensation. It will also be much more difficult to establish a solid case of the situation escalates to a trial.

Stay Hydrated and Eat a Clean Diet

The food that you eat before and after work is going to affect your health, energy levels, and ability to recover. Those who have a physically demanding job should mostly eat fresh produce, lean protein sources, and complex carbohydrates. That combination of food will give you long-term energy instead of short bursts of energy. You should also try to keep water with you at all times so that you can continue to sip on it throughout the day.

Know Your Rights

Before starting any job, you should first know all of your rights and responsibilities as an employee. That includes what type of compensation you are entitled to if you are injured while working. Those who are offered an unfair settlement should immediately contact a workers' compensation legal representative, such as those at Hoffmans Injury Lawyers, to explore their legal options. Accepting an unfair settlement is going to make it much more difficult to recover and get back on your feet.

No matter how careful you try to be, accidents can happen at any time. Those who believe they have been injured should immediately notify their employer and head to the hospital to prevent long-term issues.