back safety and safe lifting carl powell director of environmental health & safety
TRANSCRIPT
Back Safety
andSafe Lifting
Carl Powell
Director of Environmental Health & Safety
Course Content
Introduction
Anatomy
Mechanics
Lifting & carrying
Risk assessment
Preventing back injuries
INTRODUCTION
This training session provides information on preventing back injuries and techniques for safe lifting
By age 50 approximately 85% of Americans have had one or more back injury
More than 1 million injuries occureach year
25% of workers compensationclaims involve backinjuries – costing billionsof dollars annually
Introduction
Back injuries are the largest cause of accidents at work:
Back injuries are exceedingly painful and difficult to heal
After suffering one back injury,you are much more likely toexperience another injury
It is important to learn how toavoid injuring or re-injuringyour back
Introduction
Back injuries are caused by:
Improper lifting – often cumulative damage over a period a time
Overuse of certain muscles and joints
Poor general health, lack of physical fitness, loss of suppleness
Stress and fatigue
ANATOMYBack - Complex System:
Spine
Muscles
Ligaments and tendons
Nerves
Spine
Three main functions:
To protect the spinal cord
To allow movement
To support the upper body
Spine
Strong and flexible
Gentle ‘S’ bend
The lower part of the back holds most of the body’s weight
Every time you bend over, you put stress on your spine – even leaning forward at your desk
Over time the discs become damaged
Anatomy
Discs
Vertebrae
33 bones – the top 24 are separated by discs
The bottom 9 fuse together by adulthood
Each vertebrae has 4 joints which enables movement
Vertebrae are larger towards the bottom of the spine
Vertebrae
Spinal CordDisc
Anatomy
Anatomy
Discs
Act as shock absorbers
Firmly attached to vertebrae
Poor blood supply- slows healing
Annulus stretches and relaxes during movement
Disc
Nucleus
Annulus
Anatomy
Discs
Repeated stresses can cause minute tears and bulging of the disk
Presses on adjacent nerves and ligaments – pins & needles, pain, numbness
Commonly called a slipped disc or herniated disc
Anatomy
Muscles
Muscles are bundles of fibers which enable movement
Muscles affecting the spine
Messages from the brain cause them to contract and relax
A damaged muscle is called a strain
AnatomyLigaments and tendons
Stooped back posture can result in permanent elongation – weakness and pain
If stretched too far and torn – called a sprain
Ligaments connect two or more bones together
Tendons attach muscle to bone
Strong fibrous tissues
Small degree of elasticity
AnatomyNerves
Millions of fibers transmitting electrical impulses back and forth from the brain
Nerves branch out from the spinal cord and pass between vertebrae
A herniated disc can irritate the nerve root and cause leg pain
– this is calledsciatica and is oftenmore painful thanlower back pain
MECHANICS
Think of you back as a lever
The balance point is through the center of the body when standing
Center of Gravity
Equal force
Mechanics
A load held in front disturbs the balance - tension is generated in the back muscles to compensate
The human back operates on a 10:1 ratio; with the waist acting as the fulcrum
Center of Gravity
(fulcrum)
Mechanics
Holding the load closer to your body will reduce the pressure on your back
100 lbs. 10 lbs.
Mechanics
Using the proper lifting technique (bend at the knees and keep the back straight) to reduce the pressure on your back
100 lbs.
10 lbs.
X
Mechanics
To reduce the tension: hold the load closer to the body and bend your knees
High or repetitive levels of tension in the back can cause damage
LIFTING & CARRYING
Steps:
Before lifting occursPlan the routeAssess the loadCorrect positioning of feetStraight backCorrect gripLift smoothlyCarrying the load
Before lifting
Warm up exercises
Prior to lifting, you should warm up your muscles just like a professional athlete
Lifting
Plan the Route
Where is the load going ?
Are there obstructions in the way ?
Is there somewhere to set it down ?
LiftingCorrect Positioning of Feet
Comfortably apart
One foot positioned in direction of movement
Other foot where it can give maximum thrust to the body
To maintain good balance feet should never be too close together on the ground
Lifting
Straight Back
Lower the body by relaxing the knees
Keep your back straight (but not vertical)
Keep load close to body
Keep chin in and head back
Lifting
If lifting from ground make maximum use of legs
Keep back straight, but inclined forward
Tighten the stomach muscles as the lift begins
As lift proceeds and the legs are straightened, the back returns to vertical position
Positioning of feet and bending of knees are the key factors in maintaining a straight back
LiftingCorrect Grip
Take a firm grip by using the palms of the hands and roots of fingers
Taking weight on finger tips will create pressure at the end of fingers and could strain muscles and tendons in the arms
A full palm grip will reduce muscle stress to the arms and decrease the possibility of the load slipping
LiftingLifting Smoothly
Thrust from back foot and straightening of knees will move body forwards and upwards – briefly off balance
Immediately countered by bringing the back foot forward as if walking
Lift now completed - forward movement results in smooth transition from lifting to carrying
LiftingCarrying the Load
Make sure you can see where you are going
Avoid twisting the body – move your feet instead
If you need to change your grip – set the load down – not whilst walking
Setting the Load Down
Use the correct stance for lifting and set the load down gently
Lifting
One Person Lift
Determine the weight
Look for sharp edges
See if the weight is evenlydistributed
Keep heaviest side to body
Decide how to hold the load
If it is too heavy use a trolley or get assistance
LiftingTwo Person Lift
Decide who will be caller
Assess the weight
Correct positioning of feet
Straight back
Correct grip
Lift together
Lifting - Summary
Plan the route, the lift and the set down point
Position your feet - bent knees, straight back
Firm grip, lift smoothly
Move the feet – do not twist body
Keep the load close to the body
Put down smoothly – then adjust for final position
RISK ASSESSMENT
TaskIndividual’s capabilitiesLoadEnvironment
Other factors
A risk assessment is an examination of the factors that may cause harm
Risk Assessment
Holding loads away from body
Twisting
Stooping
Reaching upwards
Large vertical movements
Long travel distances
Strenuous pushing and pulling
Unpredictable movement of load
Repetitive handling
Insufficient rest or recovery time
Work rate imposed by the process
The Task - Avoid:
Risk Assessment
Individual’s capability
Certain conditions may limit an individuals capability
- Illness- Pregnancy - Obesity
Some tasks require unusual capabilities, special information or training
Risk Assessment
The Load
Heavy – can the load be broken down into smaller loads
Bulky or unwieldy – are two people required
Difficult to grasp/hold – would a trolley assist the move
Harmful i.e. sharp/hot – is personal protective equipment required
Risk Assessment
The Working Environment
Constraints on posture - e.g. lack of space
Poor floors
Variations in levels
Hot / cold / rain / humid conditions
Strong air movement
Poor lighting conditions
Risk Assessment
Other Factors
Is movement hindered by clothing or personal protective clothing
High stress
Rushing – pressure of work
Showing off
Short cuts
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
PREVENTING BACK INJURIES
Short frequent breaks are better than infrequent long breaks – for example 10 seconds rest every 10 minutes is more helpful than a 60 second rest every 60 minutes
Preventing back injuries
Don’toverdo
it
Don’t be afraid to ask for help – know your physical limitations and abilities
Preventing back injuriesUse assistive devices if possible
Gas cylinder trolleyHand truck Utility cart
Scissor lift tablePallet truck
Preventing back injuriesAssistive devices allow both hands to control the truck/cart
Tie down straps may be required
Pushing a device is better for your back than pulling
Stay close to the load and keep your back straight
Avoid leaning over
Preventing back injuries
Sleeping position - The neutral position keeps the back in its natural “S” bend
Try placing a pillow between your knees when sleeping on your side
Or place a pillow under your knees when sleeping on your back - You may also want to try using a towel roll to support your lower back
FINALLY
This session provides practical information on preventing back injuries and how to safely lift objects
You will only protect yourself if you practice the techniques described
These techniques affect work and home activities
Now take the quiz