SAFE LIFTING

1. SAFE LIFTING Avoiding a Painful Back

2. Back Injuries • Back injuries account for nearly 20% of all injuries and illnesses in the workplace. • Back injuries cost the nation an estimated 20 to 50 billion dollars per year.

3. Slips, Trips and Falls • On stairways alone, falls result in over two million disabling injuries yearly. • There are thousands more minor injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls each year. • Most alarming of all is, the fact that industrial falls cause over 1000 deaths each year. • Slips, trips and falls account for 15 to 20 percent of all workers' compensation costs.

4. Leading Back Injury Factors • Poor posture • Poor physical condition • Incorrect lifting • Jobs that require high energy

5. THE SPINE’S BASIC FUNCTIONS • Providing support • Protecting the spinal cord • Providing flexibility to allow bending and rotating

6. STANDING POSTURE • Keep your spinal column aligned in its natural curves • Prop one foot up on a stool to reduce stress in your lower back

7. STRETCH OFTEN - SHIFT POSITIONS • Shift your posture often • Stretch frequently throughout the day • Keep your body flexible (not rigid or fixed) • Don’t force your body to conform to its workspace

8. LIFT WITH COMMON SENSE! • Assess the situation • Is the load big, bulky, heavy? • Do you need help? • Remember- no single technique will work in all circumstances

9. THE SAFE LIFTING ZONE • The safe lifting zone is between the knees and shoulders • Below knee level? • Bend with your knees and lift with your legs • Above your shoulders? • Use a stool or ladder

10. PUSH-- DON’T PULL Can you slide it instead of lifting it?

11. Do you need equipment to help move it? • Use proper equipment • Hand trucks • Forklifts • Dollies • Use gloves if needed

12. Must you twist or stretch to get it? • Readjust the load or your position before you lift. • Get help!

13. PREPARING TO LIFT OR MOVE • Have you stretched your muscles or warmed up before lifting? • Are you wearing slip resistant shoes? • Have you cleared a pathway before you move the item?

14. WHEN YOU LIFT Do • Plant your feet firmly - get a stable base • Bend at your knees - not your waist • Tighten your abdominal muscles to support your spine • Get a good grip - use both hands

15. WHEN YOU LIFT Do • Keep the load close to your body • Use your leg muscles as you lift • Keep your back upright, keep it in its natural posture • Lift steadily and smoothly without jerking

16. WHEN YOU LIFT Do Not • Lift from the floor • Twist and lift • Lift with one hand (unbalanced) • Lift loads across obstacles

17. WHEN YOU LIFT Do Not • Lift while reaching or stretching • Lift from an uncomfortable posture • Fight to recover a dropped object (let it go!)

18. One-handed Lift

19. Twisting

20. REMEMBER! • Your work day is one third of your total day • Plan your tasks carefully to avoid a painful back • Managing your back is your responsibility

21. General Safety Rules • Make your safety your first consideration in every situation. • Keep your work area clean and free from loose objects, stumbling or slipping hazards (including electrical wires from equipment). • Be aware of walking surfaces. Extra care is needed on wet or icy surfaces. • Never leave an unsafe condition unmarked or unguarded. • Always post “wet floor” signs when needed.

22. General Safety Rules (continued) • Wear adequate shoes that are not open and that give good support and slip resistance. • Never use broken or damaged ladders or other equipment. • Ladders in front of doors should be marked or posted with warning barricades. • Use care when working on stairways. • Be cautious when working to keep from tripping over equipment such as buckets, vacuum cleaners, and other tools.

23. Electrical Safety • Always check electrical cords, tools, or equipment before using. Damaged equipment should be pulled from service. • Any equipment that sparks, stalls or runs hot should be checked out. • Avoid wearing excessive jewelry when performing electrical tasks. • Do not block fire service panels. • Extension cords should only be used temporarily.