Back Safety in the Workplace

By: Chaizong Lor, Safety Coordinator, FM

Back Safety & Lifting• Training Objectives:

– Injury & Illness Statistics– Risk Factors - Occupational – Back Injury Prevention– Principles of Safe Handling– Lifting Plan– Biomechanics Lifting Power Zone– Back Strengthening Exercises– Summary

Injury & Illness StatisticsBureau of Labor Statistics

Sprains/Strains, Tears

Year Cases

2003 303,750

2004 282,240

2005 270,890

2006 250,870

2007 235,960

2008 222,290

2009 195,150

UW-EC Custodian MaintenanceFY 7/1/07 – 6/30/10

Cause by lifting, moving, reaching, repetitive motion, pushing/pulling, trip/fall, and struck by

No. Department/Shops Total Cost

45 Custodian $72,612.71

7 Ground Keeper

$56,260.47

4 Repair Worker

$986.20

14 Maint. Specialist

$29285.17

70 Total Claims Grand Total Cost: $159,144.55

Risk Factors - Occupational

• Common Causes of Back Injuries

Heavy Lifting

Sitting or Standing

Awkward PosturesCarrying & Lifting

Twisting

Reaching & Lifting

Slips, Trips & Falls

Risk Factors - Occupational

• Job requires heavy lifting:– Use equipment when possible or ask for

help.– Try to avoid repetitive lifting over a long

period of time.

Heavy Lifting

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.

Risk Factors - Occupational

• Injury usually occurs when carrying or lifting objects with awkward or odd shapes.

Carrying& Lifting

• Inappropriate postures that can contribute to back pain are caused by poor workstation layout and/or equipment design.

AwkwardPositions

Slips, Trips& Falls

• It is very easy to injure your back, neck or legs while slipping, tripping or falling.

Risk Factors - Occupational

• 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.

Sitting orStanding

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 Injury Prevention

• Reducing exposure to known risk factors• Repetition• Awkward Position• Force

– Object weight– Load Distribution– Object friction

• Duration

Back Injury Prevention

– Avoid Hyper extension movements of the back.

– Avoid Hyper flexion movements of the back.

Back Injury Prevention• 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

4

12

3

Assess Plan Prepare Perform

Principles of Safe Handling

• 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

Assess

Principles of Safe HandlingAsses

sCont.: • 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

Principles of Safe Handling

• 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

Plan

Principles of Safe Handling

• 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

Prepare

Principles of Safe Handling

• 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.

Perform

Lifting Plan

Proper LiftingTechniques

Get closeto the load

SquatDown

Grip theLoad

Hug the Load

SlowlyLift

Lifting Plan• Proper Lifting TechniquesGet close

to the load– 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.

Lifting Plan

• 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.

SquatDown

Lifting Plan

• 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.

Grip the Load

Lifting Plan• 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.

Hug theLoad

Lifting Plan

• 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.

SlowlyLift

Biomechanics Lifting Power Zone

30 lbs.

L5/S1 Disk

16 in.

85 lbs.

0 in.

(30 lbs. x 16 in.) + (85 lbs. x 0 in.) = 480 in-lbs.

(Box) (Employee)

30 lbs. 85 lbs.

12 in.

L5/S1 Disk

36 in.

(30 lbs. x 36 in.) + (85 lbs. x 12 in.) = 2,100 in-lbs.

(Box) (Employee)

Box = 30 lbs.Body wgt = 170 lbs.

Torque = Load x Distance

Lifting in Dumpster

Sweeping

Sweeping Bleachers

Sweeping and Lifting

Vacuum

Vacuum under Desk

Pushing/Pulling Cart

Storage

Back Strengthening Exercises

• 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 Strengthening Exercises• 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 Strengthening Exercises• 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 Strengthening Exercises• 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.

Summary

• Heavy Lifting• Twisting• Reaching & Lifting• Carrying & Lifting

• Awkward Positions• Sitting or Standing• Slips, trips, and falls

• Common Causes Of Back Injuries

• Back Injury Prevention• Reduce exposures to known risk factors

Summary

• Assess• Plan

• Prepare• Perform

• Principles of Safe Handling

• Proper Lifting Techniques• Close• Squat• Grip

• Hug• Slowly

Any Questions, Comments!!