SECTION V: SAFE
WORK PRACTICES
(Understand the Hazards of Your Work
Environment)
Information presented is not intended to be
comprehensive or all inclusive; contact your supervisor, safety officer, or the
Environmental Health and Safety Office, 475-7041 for assistance or further
information on any given topic.
BACK INJURY PREVENTION
Statistics
indicate that:
1. eight out of every 10 Americans will have a back injury
at sometime during their lives
2. back injuries cost employers an estimated 10 billion
dollars a year
3. employees spend an additional hundreds of millions more
in medical expenses for back problems
4. back injuries account for approximately 30 per cent of the
over two million on-job injuries in the
5.
it is estimated
that about 41 per cent of these back injuries are caused by overexertion, 31
per cent by falls, and 24 per cent from
reaction to or contact with an outside force
Bad backs are bad business, and they are everybody’s
business. It is hard to put a measure on
the pain and suffering caused to the individual and his/her family by
continuing back problems.
BACK INJURY
PREVENTION TECHNIQUES:
1.
Learn the proper
way to use your body, whether lifting, standing, sitting, or simply lying
down. Understand the basics of how your
body works.
2.
Practice
wellness; stay in good condition. If you
have allowed yourself to become overweight and under-exercised, commit yourself
to a program of weight loss and exercise.
Your chances of a back injury escalate rapidly when you are out of shape. Proper care of one’s back requires an
ongoing, 24-hour-a-day commitment.
3.
Stretch before
you work.
4.
When standing for
long periods of time, change positions often and elevate one foot on a box or
stool.
5.
Bend your knees
when bending forward; avoid bending with straight legs.
6.
Before driving,
adjust the car seat so that your knees are bent and are higher than your
hips. If you stretch to reach the pedals
and steering wheel, you are too far away.
7.
While driving,
keep your back straight and both hands on the wheel. Put a cushion or rolled towel at the small of
your back.
8.
When sitting,
avoid slumping or hunching over. Sit
with your back placed firmly against the back of the chair, and have your knees
higher than your hips. Keep from leaning
over your work.
9.
Sleep on a firm
mattress. Rest on your side, with knees
bent, or try sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees.
10.
Take a stretch
break when you’ve been sitting or standing in one position for long periods.
11.
Learn to relax
and unwind to reduce stress and muscle tension.
12.
If you experience
back problems, see your doctor right away.
13.
In most
circumstances, push, don’t pull heavy objects.
14.
Move, don’t over-stretch to reach items on your desk or
workbench.
15.
Wear comfortable
shoes, particularly when you must stand or walk for extended periods of time.
16.
Look for
practical solutions to everyday, routine strains on your back.
SAFE LIFTING
TECHNIQUES:
1.
If you are going
to lift an object, lift it twice. This
means that you plan ahead and lift with your mind before you lift with your
back. Know where you are going with the
load and plan a direct obstacle-free course.
2.
Don’t
overdo. Test the load carefully before
trying to lift. When help is needed,
wait until it is available.
3.
Get a firm
footing, with your feet apart for a stable stance. Stand close to the load. Put one foot alongside the load and the other
behind it. Point your toes out. Spread your knees or lower one knee to get
closer to the object. A solid base of
support reduces the likelihood of slipping or jerking movements.
4.
Squat; don’t bend
at the waist. Keep your back
straight. Take a deep breath, tighten
your stomach muscles, and tuck in your pelvis to help your back stay in balance
while you lift. (When you bend over and
lift 70 pounds from the floor, the pressure on your lower spine amounts to
1,050 pounds. If you stoop without
bending your back and lift the same weight, the pressure on the spine is only
220 pounds.)
5.
Center your
weight over your feet to maintain balance.
6.
Pull the load
close to your body for less strain on your back. Tuck arms and elbows into sides. Using your elbows or raising your shoulders
puts an unnecessary strain on the muscles in your chest and upper arms. Holding a load away from the body increases
stress 7 to 10 times.
7.
Grip the load
with your whole hand; your palms are stronger than your fingers alone. Consider wearing gloves for a better
grip. Wipe off greasy, wet, slippery or
dirty objects before trying to handle them.
Check the object for slivers, jagged or sharp edges, or failed seams
before lifting it.
8.
Bend your knees
and lift with your legs, not with your back.
Your leg muscles are much more powerful than your back muscles. Tuck in your chin,
keep your head and shoulders up. Your
lower back should be in its normal arched position while lifting to evenly
distribute stress (force) on the support structures. If you must lean forward, bend at the hips
and knees.
9.
Move your feet to
turn; pivot and above all, do not twist your back.
10.
Squat again to
put the load down smoothly and slowly.
Your leg muscles should do most of the work. Keep your fingers out from under the
load. If you put the load on a bench or
table, place it on the edge to make the surface take part of the load. When pushing the load or pulling it from the
table, use the arms and body, keeping one leg ahead of the other to insure
balance.
11.
Communicate if
someone is helping you. Coordinated
timing and clear directions reduce the risks of error.
12.
Repetitive
lifting? Reorganize your work area by
stacking materials at waist height to lessen back stress. Use lifting equipment, as appropriate (e.g.,
moving dolly; lift truck; wheeled cart, etc.).
“RULE OF THUMB”
LIFTING LIMITS
(generic only; expect variance
between individuals, depending on wide range of personal and situational
variables)
·
“average” man:
one-half his own weight. for occasional lifting; one-third his weight
for frequent lifting
· “average” woman: one-third her own weight for occasional lifting; one sixth her weight for frequent lifting