Slide 1 Manual Material Handling Presented by: Insert Name Safety Management Consultant

Slide 2 Goals For Today Overview of ergonomics. Risk factors associated with Cumulative Trauma Disorders in the manual material handling workplace. Understand how the back is built and how to protect it. Preparing for work.

Slide 3 Ergonomics Also known as human factors. To optimize the functioning of a system by adapting it to human capacities and needs. Fitting the work to the worker - not the worker to the work.

Slide 4 Definitions Cumulative Trauma Disorder: Micro trauma events that eventually lead to an injury. Occurs over time. Sometimes difficult to determine cause. Often unconscious behavior creates the injury.

Slide 5 Definitions Risk Factors: Conditions and/or activities associated with the development of CTDs. Primary Risk Factors: Awkward prolonged postures Excessive force Repetition

Slide 6 We Are Creatures of Habit

Slide 7 Occupational Risk Factors Repetition Awkward Postures Excessive Force Mechanical Contact Stressors Hand/Arm Segmental Vibration Cold Work Environments

Slide 8 Awkward Posture What happens to grip strength when we change the position of our wrist? Where is our grip strength the best? Do other joints have similar characteristics? P

Slide 9 Excessive Force Force levels can become high both from internal loads (holding a body part in a awkward posture) or from external forces generated by lifting an object.

Slide 10 Symptoms of CTDs Aching Swelling Throbbing Burning Numbness Pins and needles Loss of strength Pain Unusual bumps

Slide 11 Developmental Sequence of the Human Body: Establishing Our Core When a baby is just few days old they have no trunk stability. They first gain control of their heads. Within the first year of life they develop trunk control. Around one year of age they are able to stand/walk and use their extremities effectively.

Slide 12 Getting Older: Changes in our Body Our cardiovascular fitness diminishes Our core strength weakens Forward head posture increases We dehydrate quicker Flexibility diminishes The risk of repetitive strain injuries increases

Slide 13 How Is My Back Built? Spine has 3 main functions Flexibility and stability Spinal cord protection Shock absorption Flexibility and Stability 24 movable bones called vertebrae System of levers that sustain body weight and provide mechanism for force exertion

Slide 14 Discs Spinal Disc Located between each vertebrae Cartilage-like material in bands Cartilage encompasses the core or nucleus

Slide 15 Disc Injury

Slide 16 How Are Your Backs?

Slide 17 Risk Factors Lifts from floor level should be avoided whenever possible. Inefficient Encourages poor technique Dramatically increases risk of injury

Slide 18 Risk Factors Bending from the waist to pick up a pen or piece of paper puts nearly twice as much stress on the back as lifting a 40- pound object using proper technique. Weight of torso must also be supported during an improper lift.

Slide 19 Risk Factors Twisting puts high torque forces on spinal disc High risk for injury Core trunk muscles are inefficient

Slide 20 Compare Lifts Biomechanical Predictions about L5/S1: Horizontal Distance of Load:8.0 in Biomechanical Angle of Trunk: 90° Total Compressive Forces: lb Biomechanical Predictions about L5/S1: Horizontal Distance of Load:33.0 in Biomechanical Angle of Trunk:17° Total Compressive Forces: lb > MPL*

Slide 21 NIOSH Lifting Equation NIOSH Lifting Equation calculates the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) for a specific lifting or lowering task. According to the NIOSH equation, it is safe for 99% of the male population and 75% of the female population to safely lift 51 pounds. P

Slide 22 NIOSH Lifting Equation Horizontal distance <10 inches Vertical distance = 30 inches Travel distance < 10 inches Asymmetry = 0 Coupling is good Frequency < 1 hour per day and no more than 12 lifts/lowering are performed

Slide 23 Core Muscles: Trunk Muscles These muscles are located from our neck to the base of our pelvis. These muscles provide trunk stability so our extremities can move and work efficiently. As we age these muscles can weaken and injuries to the shoulders, back and hips can occur.

Slide 24 Efficient Movement and Stabilization: The value of strong core muscles Stabilizers Proper stability provides good and efficient mobility

Slide 25 Inefficient Movement and Poor Stabilization Decrease strength. Increase energy requirements to complete a task. Make a joint mechanically less efficient. Increase the risk of injury. Create imbalance and compensation in the body.

Slide 26 Poor Posture : Bad Habits and Aging Poor posture will contribute to trunk instability. Forward head and curved upper back will encourage poor shoulder biomechanics. Forward head posture and curved upper back will flatten the lumbar curve making the lumbar disc less efficient.

Slide 27 Proper Bending and Lifting Technique Is it always possible? NO! 1. Lead with the head. 2. Maintain the inward curve of the back if possible by tightening trunk muscles. 3. Bend at the knees. 4. Think like a power lifter.

Slide 28 Proper Bending and Lifting Technique Use your core strength efficiently. Try to minimize the risk. If a lift is high risk then greater recovery time is needed before next lift.

Slide 29 Reposition Back (Do this every time you stand up) Gently move into extension. Hold this position for 5 seconds and repeat 2-3 times. P

Slide 30 Why Should I Stretch and Move? Maintains flexibility. Brings new blood flow to fatigued muscles. Filters out the by-products of muscle fatigue. Muscles like to move by lengthening and shortening.

Slide 31 Stretching and Moving Stretching and moving shouldn’t hurt. Always start in neutral or as close to neutral as you can get. Slow and controlled is best. Modify the stretch or movement if it isn’t comfortable.

Slide 32 Guiding Principles for Lifting Eliminate all lifts from the ground. Avoid any lifts that don’t add value to the product. Keep lifting between standing knuckle and shoulder height. Avoid extended reaches with a lift. Use lift assist devices when ever possible. Use good lifting technique no matter what the size of the object being lifted. P

Slide 33 Summary Don’t let gravity get you down. Let neutral posture be your guide. Keep lifts off the floor. Use your core muscles efficiently Stretch and move to keep yourself healthy.

Slide 34 MEMIC’s Safety Director 1.Go to and you will notice a blue tab called “For Employers”. Drag your mouse pointer over this tab and on the right-hand menu, you’ll see a link entitled Log into Safety Director. 2.If you are a new user to Safety Director, click on the new user link to create a personal profile. 3.Get started! Register Today! Get the Resources You Need to Make Your Workplace Safer

Slide 35 for your participation in this training session.