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Back Safety

Learn how to prevent back injuries and improve posture to stay safe during activities like lifting, reaching, and playing sports. Discover lifting techniques, back statistics, common back injuries, conditioning exercises, and the use of lifting equipment.

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Back Safety

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  1. Back Safety

  2. Back Activities • Reaching, bending over, sitting • Skiing, hiking, bike riding • Playing with your children and grandchildren • Working and feeling productive

  3. Back Safety Goals • Back injury and injury prevention • Lifting techniques • Quiz

  4. Back Statistics • 80% of Americans will have a back injury that requires medical attention • Back injuries are the second most common cause of lost work time, next to the common cold • Back injuries occur more often at home than they do at work • Injured backs are often subject to reinjury • In addition to missed work, there may be a lifetime of pain

  5. Back Parts • Vertebrae • Spinal cord • Disks • Muscles, ligaments, tendons

  6. Potential Back Injury • Strain or sprain • Bulging disk • Herniated disk

  7. Causes of Injury • Years of abuse • Poor posture • Unconditioned back • Excess weight and potbellies • Bad lifting techniques

  8. Back Posture • Maintain the back’s natural curves • Standing • Sitting • Sleeping • Changing posture and stretching • Adaptive posture

  9. Conditioning Your Back • Physical conditioning • Flexibility • Excess weight and potbellies

  10. Exercises • Walking • Stretching • Sit-ups • Leg lifts • Squats

  11. Lifting Equipment • Powered equipment such as forklifts, powered carts, and electric pallet jacks • Handtrucks, carts, pallet jacks • Cranes and hoists • Conveyors

  12. Back Safety Goals • Back injury and injury prevention • Lifting techniques • Quiz

  13. Lifting Plan • Size up the load • Weight • Shape and size • Clear the path • Objects • Tight doorways or corners • Unloading zone

  14. Proper Lift • Stand close with a shoulder-width stance • Squat by bending your knees and hips • Pull the load close and grip it • Tighten your stomach, lift your head • Rise up with your legs

  15. Carrying the Load • Make sure you can see • Take small, stable steps • Do not twist your back

  16. Proper Unloading • Squat down with the load • Do not bend your back over with the load • Be careful of fingers

  17. Overhead Loads • Shoulders level with the load • Slide the load close • Use your legs

  18. Long Loads • Pick up one end • Place the balance point on your shoulder • Watch the ends

  19. Lifting Bags • Squat down next to the bag • Grab it at opposite corners • Lift it up to your thigh or waist • Stand up • Put the load on your shoulder

  20. Team Lifting • Designate a person to lead the lift • Lift at the same time • Keep the load level • Unload slowly together

  21. Think About Your Back • Don’t be lazy • Think long term • Don’t try to lift too much • Consider your back in all things

  22. Back Safety Goals • Back injury and injury prevention • Lifting techniques • Quiz

  23. Summary • Maintain back posture and conditioning • Use available lifting equipment • Have a lifting plan • Use your legs • Always think about your back

  24. Quiz 1. More back injuries occur at work than at home. True or False 2. Poor __________ can cause back pain by disrupting the back’s natural curve. 3. Name 2 things to check before attempting to lift a load: _________________, __________________. 4. Lifting with your legs is necessary only when attempting to lift heavy loads. True or False 5. Describe 2 of the more common back injuries: __________________, __________________.

  25. Quiz (cont.) 6. A “weekend warrior” might incur a back injury because his back is not _______________________. 7. When conducting a team lift, the first thing you should do is _______________________________. 8. Back injuries are usually the result of a single traumatic event. True or False 9. Name some of the material handling equipment that your company has available: __________________. 10. Is your back more suited for pushing or pulling a load? ___________________________________

  26. Quiz Answers 1. False. More back injuries occur at home. That’s why we also need to consider our backs when away from work. 2. Poor posture disrupts the back’s natural curves. 3. Size up or evaluate the load, clear the pathway. 4. False. Lifting incorrectly even with light loads constitutes back abuse. 5. Strained muscle, sprained or torn ligament, bulging disk, herniated or ruptured disk.

  27. Quiz Answers (cont.) 6. The “weekend warrior’s” back is usually not properly conditioned for strenuous work. 7.Designating a lift leader help to coordinate the lift to keep all participants safe. 8. False. Back injuries are usually the result of years of abuse until the weakened back snaps. 9. Material handling equipment might include: cart, forklift, handtruck, pallet jack, conveyor, hoist. 10. The back has more strength pushing than it does when pulling.

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