Back Safety in the Workplace Back Safety Lifting

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) 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.

Back Safety & Lifting • Common Causes of Back Injuries Heavy Lifting Twisting Reaching & Lifting Carrying & Lifting Awkward Postures Sitting or Standing Slips, Trips & Falls

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. Reaching & Lifting • Injury usually occurs when reaching over the head, across a table or out the back of a truck.

Back Safety & Lifting Carrying & Lifting • Injury usually occurs when carrying or lifting objects with awkward or odd shapes. Awkward Positions • Inappropriate postures that can contribute to back pain are caused by poor workstation layout and/or equipment design. Slips, Trips & Falls • It is very easy to injure your back, neck or legs while slipping, tripping or falling.

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 – Avoid lifting and bending whenever you can. – Place objects up off the floor. – That way you won’t have to reach down to pick them up again. – Raise / lower shelves. – The best zone for lifting is between your shoulders and your waist. – Put heavier objects on shelves at waist level, lighter objects on lower or higher shelves.

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 2 Assess Plan Prepare Perform

Back Safety & Lifting Assess • Assess the task: – Posture – Pacing, rate of work, breaks – Requirements for team handling • Assess Your Own Capabilities: – Strength, height, etc. – Health problems – Gender, age, fitness

Back Safety & Lifting Assess Cont. : • Assess the Load: – – Weight, shape, size Handles, packaging Stability Contents: hot, cold, hazardous • Assess the environment: – – Space constraints Flooring condition, levels Temperature, humidity, ventilation Tidiness, general housekeeping

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 Prepare • Prepare the load: – – – Can the load be split? Can the load be made more stable? Make sure contents are evenly distributed? Move the load’s center 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 Perform • 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 Slowly Lift Proper Lifting Techniques Hug the Load Squat Down Grip the Load

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 object’s 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 body’s 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 Torque = Load x Distance Box = 30 lbs. Body wgt = 170 lbs. L 5/S 1 Disk 12 in. L 5/S 1 Disk 36 in. 16 in. 0 in. 30 lbs. 85 lbs. (30 lbs. x 36 in. ) + (85 lbs. x 12 in. ) = 2, 100 in-lbs. (Box) (Employee) 85 lbs. (30 lbs. x 16 in. ) + (85 lbs. x 0 in. ) = 480 in-lbs. (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 • Prepare • Perform – Proper Lifting Techniques • Close • Squat • Grip • Hug • Slowly – Exercise-Should You? ---of course!!!

Back Safety & Lifting • Any Questions, Comments!!!