material handling & back safety training by gary beaudette

Material Handling and Material Handling and Back Safety TrainingBack Safety Training

Gary BeaudetteGary BeaudetteSafety OfficerSafety OfficerEnvironmental Health, Safety, Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Managementand Risk Management

Some information provided byOklahoma State University

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than more than one million workersone million workers suffer back suffer back injuries each year, and back injuries account injuries each year, and back injuries account for for one of every five workplace injuriesone of every five workplace injuries

One fourth of all compensation claims involve back One fourth of all compensation claims involve back injuries, which cost employers injuries, which cost employers billions of dollarsbillions of dollars

Add to that the employees’ painAdd to that the employees’ painand suffering…and suffering…

IntroductionIntroduction

Material Handling and Lifting Injuries Material Handling and Lifting Injuries are exceedingly are exceedingly painful, difficult to painful, difficult to healheal, and have an , and have an effect on effect on everything you doeverything you doAfter suffering just one back injury, After suffering just one back injury, you are much more likely to you are much more likely to experience another one later onexperience another one later on

It is important to It is important to learn learn how to avoidhow to avoid injuring injuring or re-injuring your or re-injuring your backback

ObjectivesObjectives At the end of this presentation, you shouldAt the end of this presentation, you should be familiar with the following topics:be familiar with the following topics:

Forces involved with liftingForces involved with lifting Risky moves associated with liftingRisky moves associated with lifting Contributing factors to materials handling/lifting Contributing factors to materials handling/lifting

injuriesinjuries Injury preventionInjury prevention Proper lifting proceduresProper lifting procedures Using the Using the Calculator For Analyzing Lifting OperationsCalculator For Analyzing Lifting Operations Body ManagementBody Management Work-specific training requirementsWork-specific training requirements

The Forces InvolvedThe Forces InvolvedThe amount of force placed on your back under certain conditions canThe amount of force placed on your back under certain conditions canbe surprising. be surprising. Anytime you bend or lean over to pick something upAnytime you bend or lean over to pick something upwithout bending your knees, you put tremendous pressure on yourwithout bending your knees, you put tremendous pressure on yourlower back. lower back.

Think of your back as a lever. With theThink of your back as a lever. With thefulcrum in the center of the lever, it onlyfulcrum in the center of the lever, it onlytakes ten pounds of pressure to lift atakes ten pounds of pressure to lift aten pound object.ten pound object.

However, if you shift the fulcrum to one side, it takes much more force toHowever, if you shift the fulcrum to one side, it takes much more force tolift the same object. lift the same object. Your waist actually acts like the fulcrum in aYour waist actually acts like the fulcrum in alever system, and it is not centered. In fact, it operates on a lever system, and it is not centered. In fact, it operates on a 10:110:1ratioratio. Lifting a ten pound object actually puts 100 pounds of. Lifting a ten pound object actually puts 100 pounds ofpressure on your lower back. pressure on your lower back.

The Forces InvolvedThe Forces Involved

When you When you add in the 105 pounds add in the 105 pounds of the average human upper torsoof the average human upper torso, , you see that lifting a ten poundyou see that lifting a ten poundobject object actually puts 1,150 poundsactually puts 1,150 poundsof pressureof pressure on the lower back. on the lower back. Given these figures, it is easy toGiven these figures, it is easy tosee how see how repetitive lifting andrepetitive lifting andbending can quickly cause backbending can quickly cause backproblemsproblems. Even leaning forward. Even leaning forwardwhile sitting at a desk or table canwhile sitting at a desk or table caneventually lead to back relatedeventually lead to back relatedproblems. problems.

Risky MovesRisky MovesCertain actions are more likely to cause backCertain actions are more likely to cause backinjuries than others. Anytime you find yourselfinjuries than others. Anytime you find yourselfdoing one of these things, you should think:doing one of these things, you should think:DANGER!DANGER! My back is at risk! My back is at risk!

Heavy liftingHeavy lifting...especially repetitive ...especially repetitive lifting over a long period of timelifting over a long period of time Twisting at the waistTwisting at the waist while lifting orwhile lifting or holding a heavy load. (This frequently holding a heavy load. (This frequently happens when using a shovel.)happens when using a shovel.) Reaching and liftingReaching and lifting...over your head,...over your head, across a table, or out the back of a truck. across a table, or out the back of a truck.

More Risky MovesMore Risky Moves Lifting or carrying objects with Lifting or carrying objects with awkward or odd shapesawkward or odd shapes

Working in awkward, uncomfortableWorking in awkward, uncomfortablepositionspositions...gardening, kneeling, tasks that ...gardening, kneeling, tasks that require you to bend over for long periods of time...require you to bend over for long periods of time...

Also, sitting or standing for too longAlso, sitting or standing for too long without shifting. without shifting.

The further you bend, and the more you The further you bend, and the more you extend your arms, the more significant extend your arms, the more significant

the risk of injury! the risk of injury!

Other Causes of InjuriesOther Causes of Injuries It is also possible to injure yourself It is also possible to injure yourself slipping on a wet floor or iceslipping on a wet floor or ice

Tripping or falling over obstacles in Tripping or falling over obstacles in the walkwaythe walkway

Improper use of lifting of moving Improper use of lifting of moving equipmentequipment

Contributing Factors to Contributing Factors to Handling/Lifting InjuriesHandling/Lifting Injuries

Poor Physical Condition…Poor Physical Condition… Your stomach muscles provide a lot of the Your stomach muscles provide a lot of the support needed by your back. If you have weak, support needed by your back. If you have weak, flabby stomach muscles, your back may not get flabby stomach muscles, your back may not get all the support it needs, especially when you're all the support it needs, especially when you're lifting or carrying heavy objects. Good physical lifting or carrying heavy objects. Good physical condition in general is important for preventing condition in general is important for preventing strains, sprains, and other injuries. strains, sprains, and other injuries.

Poor posture…Poor posture… Is another contributing factor. When your Is another contributing factor. When your mother told you to sit and stand up straight, mother told you to sit and stand up straight, she was giving you good advice. It is best to she was giving you good advice. It is best to try to maintain the back in its natural "S" try to maintain the back in its natural "S" shaped curve. You want to avoid leaning shaped curve. You want to avoid leaning forward (unsupported) when you sit, or forward (unsupported) when you sit, or hunching over while you're standing. hunching over while you're standing.



Extra weight…Extra weight… Can be a big problem. Can be a big problem. Remember the fulcrum / lever Remember the fulcrum / lever principle? The more you weigh, principle? The more you weigh, the more stress it puts on your the more stress it puts on your back every time you bend back every time you bend over--on a 10:1 ratio. over--on a 10:1 ratio.

Contributing Factors to Contributing Factors to Handling/Lifting InjuriesHandling/Lifting InjuriesStress…Stress… Tense muscles Tense muscles are are more susceptible to more susceptible to strains and spasms. strains and spasms.


Overdoing it…Overdoing it… Don’t be afraid to say, Don’t be afraid to say, “This is too “This is too heavy for me to lift alone.”heavy for me to lift alone.”

It’s important to recognize your It’s important to recognize your physical limitations and abilities. Many physical limitations and abilities. Many people have injured their backs because people have injured their backs because they were afraid to they were afraid to ask for help. ask for help.

Preventing Back Injuries Preventing Back Injuries The best way to prevent back injuries is to The best way to prevent back injuries is to developdevelophabitshabits that reduce the strain placed on the back. There that reduce the strain placed on the back. Thereare some basic things you can do to help.are some basic things you can do to help.

Avoid Lifting and Bending Whenever You Can!Avoid Lifting and Bending Whenever You Can! Place objects up off the floor. If you can set Place objects up off the floor. If you can set Something down on a table or other elevated Something down on a table or other elevated surface instead of on the floor, do it so you won'tsurface instead of on the floor, do it so you won'thave to reach down to pick it up again. have to reach down to pick it up again.

Raise / lower shelvesRaise / lower shelves. The best zone for lifting is . The best zone for lifting is between your shoulders and your waist. Put heavier between your shoulders and your waist. Put heavier objects on shelves at waist level, lighter objects onobjects on shelves at waist level, lighter objects onlower or higher shelves. lower or higher shelves.

Preventing Back Injuries Preventing Back Injuries Use carts and dolliesUse carts and dollies to move objects, instead of carrying them to move objects, instead of carrying themyourself. yourself. (Remember that it is better on your back to push carts(Remember that it is better on your back to push cartsthan it is to pull them.)than it is to pull them.) Use cranes, hoists, lift tablesUse cranes, hoists, lift tables, and other lift-assist devices, and other lift-assist deviceswhenever you can.whenever you can.

Use Proper Lifting Use Proper Lifting ProceduresProcedures

You can't always avoid lifting, but there are You can't always avoid lifting, but there are ways to reduce the amount of pressure ways to reduce the amount of pressure placed on the back when you do soplaced on the back when you do so

By bending the knees, you keep your spine in By bending the knees, you keep your spine in a better alignment, and you essentially take a better alignment, and you essentially take away the lever principle forces. away the lever principle forces.

Instead of using your back like a crane, you Instead of using your back like a crane, you allow your legs to do the work. allow your legs to do the work.


Take a balanced stance with your Take a balanced stance with your feet about a shoulder-width apart. feet about a shoulder-width apart. one foot can be behind the object one foot can be behind the object and the other next to it. and the other next to it.

Squat down to lift the object, but Squat down to lift the object, but keep your heels off the floor. Get keep your heels off the floor. Get as close to the object as you can. as close to the object as you can. Keep your back straight. Keep your back straight.

Use your palms (not just your Use your palms (not just your fingers) to get a secure grip on fingers) to get a secure grip on the load. Make sure you'll be able the load. Make sure you'll be able to maintain a hold on the object to maintain a hold on the object without switching your grip later. without switching your grip later.


Lift gradually (without jerking) using your leg, abdominal Lift gradually (without jerking) using your leg, abdominal and buttock muscles and and buttock muscles and keeping the load as close to youkeeping the load as close to you as possible. Keep your chin tucked in so as to keep a as possible. Keep your chin tucked in so as to keep a relatively straight back and neck line.relatively straight back and neck line.

Once you're standing, change directions by Once you're standing, change directions by pointing your feet in the direction you wantpointing your feet in the direction you want to go and turning your whole body. to go and turning your whole body. AvoidAvoid twistingtwisting at your waist while carrying a load. at your waist while carrying a load.

By following these lifting guidelines and byBy following these lifting guidelines and by practicing good body/back management, practicing good body/back management, you can prevent back injuries on the job andyou can prevent back injuries on the job and at home. at home.

Other Lifting TipsOther Lifting Tips Reduce the amount of weight liftedReduce the amount of weight lifted.. If you're If you're

moving a bunch of books, better to load several moving a bunch of books, better to load several small boxes than one extremely heavy loadsmall boxes than one extremely heavy load

Keep a Keep a clear view aheadclear view ahead when carrying/moving a when carrying/moving a load. Never carry a load in front of your face as it load. Never carry a load in front of your face as it forces you to lean or twist and upsets your balance forces you to lean or twist and upsets your balance

Use handles and lifting strapsUse handles and lifting straps

Push a dolly or cart in a linear motion. Never Push a dolly or cart in a linear motion. Never pull, as it forces you to twist at the waist!pull, as it forces you to twist at the waist!

Get helpGet help if the shape is too awkward or the object if the shape is too awkward or the object is too heavy for you to lift and move by yourself! is too heavy for you to lift and move by yourself!

How to determine if the load How to determine if the load you are moving is “too much.”you are moving is “too much.”

Use the Use the Calculator For Analyzing Lifting Calculator For Analyzing Lifting Operations FormOperations Form……. on next slide……. on next slide

Easy to use formula based on factors suchEasy to use formula based on factors such as the weight to be lifted, at whatas the weight to be lifted, at what position you begin the lift from, the frequencyposition you begin the lift from, the frequency of lifting, and if twisting is involvedof lifting, and if twisting is involved

Simple result lets you know if lifting the Simple result lets you know if lifting the load could be hazardousload could be hazardous or not or not

What is too heavy?What is too heavy?

It's important to It's important to know your body's know your body's limitationslimitations, and it's important to , and it's important to be be aware of your body positionaware of your body position at all times at all times

Learn to Learn to recognizerecognize those situations those situations where your back is most a risk: bending, where your back is most a risk: bending, lifting, reaching, twisting, etc.lifting, reaching, twisting, etc.

Then take measures to avoid an injury Then take measures to avoid an injury by using this training whenever you by using this training whenever you handle or lift materials handle or lift materials

Practice Body Practice Body ManagementManagement

Finally…….Finally…….Don’t forget the 4 most Don’t forget the 4 most

commoncommoncauses of back injurycauses of back injury

BendingBending ReachingReaching TwistingTwisting Heavy LiftingHeavy Lifting

Very Important…..Very Important…..Contact our department for Contact our department for

additional training…additional training… Your job may require the use of specialized Your job may require the use of specialized

tools or equipment, not mentioned in this tools or equipment, not mentioned in this lesson, to help facilitate the handling and lesson, to help facilitate the handling and movement of materialsmovement of materials

Training is available for material handling Training is available for material handling activities specific to YOUR work area!activities specific to YOUR work area!

Actual hands-on training and practice, Actual hands-on training and practice, where the content of this course is applied, where the content of this course is applied, should be completed as soon as possible. should be completed as soon as possible.

Call us to schedule…. 474-5413Call us to schedule…. 474-5413

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material handling & back safety training by gary beaudette

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