Back Safety in the Workplace
Back Safety & Lifting
Training Objectives:
Back Injury Statistics Common Causes of Back Injuries Back Injury Prevention Principles of Safe Handling Proper Lifting Techniques Exercises Summary
Back Safety & Lifting
Back Injury Statistics
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than one million (1,000,000) workers suffer back injures each year. Back injuries account one (1) of every five (5) workplace injuries or illness. Eight of ten American will experience back pain/injury in their lifetime. After the first injury, an individual is 5 times more likely to experience a second or more severe injury. The average cost for a lost time injury is $10,450 (NSC-2000) Fewer that 50% of lost time back injury sufferers return to work after 6 months. Less than 25% of those return after one year. (BLS, 1989).
Back Safety & Lifting
Common Causes of Back Injuries
Heavy Lifting Twisting Reaching & Lifting Carrying & Lifting Awkward Postures Slips, Trips & Falls
Sitting or Standing
Back Safety & Lifting
Heavy Lifting
Job requires heavy lifting:
Use equipment when possible or ask for help. Try to avoid repetitive lifting over a long period of time.
Twisting
Twisting at the waist while lifting or holding a heavy load. Injury usually occurs when reaching over the head, across a table or out the back of a truck.
Reaching & Lifting
Back Safety & Lifting
Carrying & Lifting
Awkward Positions
Injury usually occurs when carrying or lifting objects with awkward or odd shapes. Inappropriate postures that can contribute to back pain are caused by poor workstation layout and/or equipment design. It is very easy to injure your back, neck or legs while slipping, tripping or falling.
Slips, Trips & Falls
Back Safety & Lifting
Sitting or Standing
Sitting or standing too long in one position. Sitting can be very hard on the lower back. For every one to two hours sitting, stand up and take a stretch. For every one to two hours standing, sit down or move around and stretch.
Back Safety & Lifting
Back Injury Prevention
Reducing exposure to known risk factors
Repetition Awkward Position Force
Object weight Load Distribution Object friction
Duration
Back Safety & Lifting
Back Injury Prevention Cont.:
Avoid Hyper extension movements of the back. Avoid Hyper flexion movements of the back.
Back Safety & Lifting
Back Injury Prevention cont.:
Maintain good posture Lift objects holding them close to your body Never twist when carrying, handling, or transferring a heavy object Avoid locking out the knees Use proper lifting techniques
Back Safety & Lifting
4 3 1
Principles of Safe Handling
Assess
Plan
Prepare Perform
Back Safety & Lifting
Asses Assess the task: s
Posture Pacing, rate of work, breaks Requirements for team handling Strength, height, etc. Health problems Gender, age, fitness
Assess Your Own Capabilities:
Back Safety & Lifting
Asses Cont.: Assess the Load: s
Weight, shape, size Handles, packaging Stability Contents: hot, cold, hazardous Space constraints Flooring condition, levels Temperature, humidity, ventilation Tidiness, general housekeeping
Assess the environment:
Back Safety & Lifting
Plan Task
What is the most appropriate posture? Is there mechanical aid available? Is there anyone else to help?
Route Consider start and end points
Can any obstructions be cleared
Back Safety & Lifting
Prepar Prepare the load: Can the load be split? e Can the load be made more stable?
Make sure contents are evenly distributed? Move the loads centre of gravity close to yours Cover sharp / abrasive edges
Prepare yourself and the area:
Check space constraints Move obstacles Check final destination Check housekeeping Get a good grip on the load Use PPE where appropriate
Back Safety & Lifting
Perfor m
Apply principles of biomechanics to reduce the load on the spine
Keep a wide base of support. Maintain the lumbar curve (low back) as much as possible. Get a good grip. Position feet in direction of travel. Use smooth controlled movements. Use friction to minimize force. Try to avoid twisting and stooping. Use team lifting where appropriate.
Back Safety & Lifting
Get close to the load Proper Lifting Techniques Squat Down Grip the Load Hug the Load Slowly Lift
Back Safety & Lifting
Get close to the load
Proper Lifting Techniques Get as close to the load as possible with your feet wide apart about shoulder width, with one foot slightly in front of the other for balance.
Test the objects weight before lifting it. Ask for assistance from a co-worker when appropriate.
Have the object close to the body and put less force on the low back. Avoid rapid, jerky movements.
Back Safety & Lifting
Squat Down
Proper Lifting Techniques Cont.:
Keep yourself in an upright position while squatting to pick up. Squat by bending the knees and hips. Keep the three Curves of the Back properly aligned:
Ears, Shoulders, and Hips are in a straight line.
Back Safety & Lifting
Grip the Load
Proper Lifting Techniques Cont.:
Tightening the stomach helps support the spine. Do not hold your breath while tightening the muscles. Get a firm grasp of the object before beginning the lift.
Use both hands. Use whole hand, not just fingers. Use gloves as needed to prevent pinched grips or to protect the hands during lift.
Back Safety & Lifting
Hug the Load
Proper Lifting Techniques Cont.:
Legs are the strongest muscles in the body so use them. Avoid back flexion. Hold objects close to body. Slide the object from the knee on the ground to mid-thigh. Keep the head forward. Hug the object to your stomach & chest.
Back Safety & Lifting
Slowly Lift
Proper Lifting Techniques Cont.:
Lift with the legs to allow the bodys powerful leg muscles to do the work. Flex the knees and hips, not the back. Avoid bending & twisting at the waist. Try to keep the back straight during the lift. Do not look down at the object during lift. Look up to help straighten the position of the back for a safer lift. Never Bend, Lift, and Twist at the same time.
Back Safety & Lifting
Box = 30 lbs. Body wgt = 170 lbs.
Torque = Load x Distance
L5/S1 Disk
12 in. 36 in.
16 in.
L5/S1 Disk
0 in. 30 lbs.
30 lbs.
85 lbs.
85 lbs.
(30 lbs. x 16 in.) + (85 lbs. x 0 in.) = 480 in-lbs.
(30 lbs. x 36 in.) + (85 lbs. x 12 in.) = 2,100 in-lbs.
(Box)
(Employee)
(Box)
(Employee)
Back Safety & Lifting
Exercises
Exercises that work your back, hips, thighs, and abdominal muscles can minimize back problems. Stand behind chair, hands on chair. Lift one leg back and up, keeping the knee straight. Warm up slowly and exercise regularly.
Back Safety & Lifting
Exercises Cont.:
Starting Position: Standing tall, feet shoulder width apart, chin tucked in
Place your palms on the small of your back, fingers pointing down. Keep your head up as you lean back slowly as far as possible. Hold for at least 10 seconds. Return to starting position and relax.
Back Safety & Lifting
Exercises Cont.:
Wall Squats
Stand with back leaning against wall Walk feet 12 inches in front of body. Keep abdominal muscles tight while slowly bending both knees 45 degrees. Hold 5 seconds. Slowly return to upright position. Repeat at least 5 to 10 times.
Back Safety & Lifting
Exercises Cont.:
Lie on the floor on back. Keeping arms folded across chest, tilt pelvis to flatten back, chin tuck into chest. Tighten abdominal muscles while raising head and shoulders from floor. Hold at least 10 seconds and release. Repeat at least 5 to 10 times.
Back Safety & Lifting
Summary
Common Causes Of Back Injuries
Heavy Lifting Twisting Reaching & Lifting Carrying & Lifting Awkward Positions Sitting or Standing Slips, trips, and falls
Back Injury Prevention
Reduce exposures to known risk factors
Back Safety & Lifting
Summary Cont.:
Principles of Safe Handling
Assess Plan Close Squat Grip Prepare Perform Hug Slowly
Proper Lifting Techniques
Exercise-Should You?---of course!!!
