1. Back Injury Prevention
JOB
WORKER
MANAGEMENT
INJURY
The job, worker, and management all are related in controlling the injury.

2. Back Injuries Aren’t Just Due to Aging
“Overexertion in lifting a heavy object is the most frequent single “lost day” type injury for those under 20 years of age.”
Source: American Society of Safety Engineers (2003)

3. Back Injury Prevention
Back basics
Back risk factors
Lifting solutions
Proper lifting techniques
Lifting techniques is last because this training alone, without making changes in the workplace, is often not effective in preventing injuries. Often employees are taught proper lifting and then sent out to work conditions that don’t allow them to use these techniques.
Discuss a controlled trial listed in The New England Journal of Medicine where there was a 5 year study in the mid-late 1990’s with 4,000 postal workers. Half received proper lifting training annual with quarterly refresher classes and the other half had no lifting training. After 5 years there they found “ the training made no difference in the rate of injury, cost of injury, lost time, or recurrence of injuries”.

4. Stages of Back Disorder
Pain
Impairment
Disability
Compensation
Notice the back belts – not a PPE

5. Is There a Concern? How many currently experience back pain?
31 million Americans experience lower back pain.
Onset of Low Back Pain
60% feel no sudden pain
Symptoms often begin
after work ends
Recurrence is High
1992 Liberty Mutual Customer Cost
2.8 Million Dollars per Working Day!!!!!!!!
$16 billion annually for total low back cost
(compensable & non-compensable)
in the U.S

6. Back Basics My Name Was Earl
There are 33 vertebra in the spine from the hip bone to the base of the neck. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are also involved in lifting injuries. Back is a lever. Fulcrum moves to the right - Lifting 10 pounds plus 105 pounds for upper torso puts 1,150 pounds of pressure on your back.

7. Major Back Injury Bulging Disk Herniated Disk
Back injuries are second most frequent cause of days away from work, next to the common cold. 20% of all workplace injuries are back injuries.
Herniated – disk begins to leak its cushioning fluid.

8. Risk Factors—Occupational
Body Motions
Lifting/Lowering
Bending/Reaching
Twisting
Pushing/Pulling
Carrying/Holding
Posture
Vibration
Falling
This employee is doing almost all of the body motion risk factors.

9. Risk Factors—Non-Occupational
Prior episode
Smoking
Obesity
Genetic factors

10. Engineer Controls Eliminate (Engineer Hazard Out) Workplace design
Tool design
Preplan process

11. Eliminate the Lift
Use mechanical lifts when possible

12. Administrative Controls
Training of employees
and management
Job rotation

13. Job Rotation Rotate to non-lifting tasks
To be effective, the rotation should be work that allows for recovery from lifting – Benefits – reduce fatigue, ability to fill in for co-workers, less boredom and more job satisfaction.

14. Pay Special Attention 1. Heavy lifting 2. Frequent lifting
3. Awkward lifting
Most claims frequency are from awkward and frequent lifting exposures.

15. Reduce Heavy Lifting 60-70 pound wood pallet “Substitute”
20 pound plastic pallet
Plastic pallets are $30 more, but benefits include reduced shipping costs, reduced repairs, reduced storage needs, and reduced ijuries from splinters and nails.

16. Reduce Size of Box
Common sense controls

17. Use mechanical assistance
Reduce Heavy Lifting
Use mechanical assistance
Mobile pneumatic conveyor for moving powders and granular products instead of having to carry bags up steps to hopper.

18. Slide Instead of Lift
Slide 75 lb car batteries – also use fork lift to lift pallet to waist level to slide onto pallet.

19. Reduce Heavy Lifting
Team Lifting*

20. Reduce Frequency Mechanical Assistance
Note - larger box can now be used with vacuum lift – This is a paper mill that produces bundles of grocery bags. Lift costs $10K – benefits are allowing only one employee to palletize on more than one line at a time, so fewer employees needed.

21. Reduce Frequency Use Mobile Storage*
Wood stove mfg. use metals racks which costs less than $300 to make to roll metal parts to powder coating to assembly areas.

22. Reduce Awkward Lifting
Raise load mechanically
Scissor lift adjusted hydraulically – costs $ – brings material up to easy height to move – can also purchase will rollers for easy slide.

23. Awkward Lifting Add Handles
Notice placement of top pallet which allows feet to be placed under in order to get box closer to the body for easier lift.

24. Lifting Tools Impacto Liftmate – www.ergobilities.com
SoloLift DualMate
Sololift costs around $27 and DualMate around $45.

25. Awkward Lifting Rearrange Storage
1. Unsafe pick lb. bags of mortar mix now at waist level

26. Awkward Lifting Mechanical assistance Stacker – stacks up to
12 feet high
Stacker costs around $800 – hand cranked – has foot brake

27. To reduce twisting – use conveyors *
Awkward Lifting
To reduce twisting – use conveyors *

28. Size Up The Load Make sure you can lift the weight.
Test load by picking
up one end!

29. Proper Lifting Think defensively about your back Use common sense
Follow good lifting techniques
Keep load close to body
If lifting must be done and no lifts or aids are available

30. Lifting Power Zone Baseball Strike Zone
Power zone from shoulders to knees – just like batter strike zone

31. Lifting Techniques Lift with your legs, not your back
Place your feet close to the object
Center yourself over the load

32. Lifting Techniques Bend your knees Get a good hand hold
Lift straight up smoothly

33. Don’t Twist or Turn Feet facing the lift Keep it steady
No twisting/turning

34. Know Your Path! Is your path clear? Are there any holes?
Are there any spilled liquids?
Check your footing.
We have checklist to help identify hazards off site for our contractor accounts.

35. Set it Down Safely Just as critical to back safety as lifting
Bend knees slowly
Let legs do the work
Don’t let go of the load until it is secure on the floor

36. Push vs. Pull If the object is on rollers, push
Pushing puts less strain on your back
Uses largest muscle group
Also, pay attention to the caster wheels which could promote more friction is older metal casters. New neoprene casters provide less friction for easier travel.

37. Additional Factors Straighten up! Get in shape! Stretch! Relax!
Poor posture can put stress on back muscles
Poor physical condition leads to weak back muscles
Stress and tension contribute to back pain
You don’t go out and play a ball game or recreational activity without warming up, so you should not begin lifting without stretching.

38. Additional Information
Click on “Safety”
Safety Videos
Sample Programs
Safety Links
Safety Talks
Posters & Forms