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Back Injury Prevention

Back Injury Prevention . Learning Objectives. The objectives of this presentation are: Recognize contributing factors of back injury Identify strategies to reduce injury. Agenda. Agenda: Factors contributing to back injury Discuss back injury prevention. Section 1.

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Back Injury Prevention

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  1. Back Injury Prevention

  2. Learning Objectives • The objectives of this presentation are: • Recognize contributing factors of back injury • Identify strategies to reduce injury

  3. Agenda • Agenda: • Factors contributing to back injury • Discuss back injury prevention

  4. Section 1 Factors that Contribute to Back Injury

  5. Contributing Factors • Contributing factors: • Many are lifestyle related • Some are hereditary or disease related • Significant factors are: • Aging • Nutrition • Posture • Trauma • General fitness

  6. Facts About Back Injuries • A few quick facts: • Over one million workers suffer back injury yearly • Accounts for 25% of all workers’ compensation expenditures • Seldom caused by one factor • Tend to be recurrent • Prevention requires a comprehensive approach

  7. Cost of Back Injuries • Cost of back injuries: • One in eight Americans experience back injury • Work-related injuries are the number one occupational hazard • Total annual costs of disabilities: • $30 - $60 billion • 100 million lost days of work • More than 250,000 Americans paralyzed

  8. Aging • Effects of normal aging: • Osteoporosis • Decreased elasticity, muscle, and ligament strength • This can be slowed by: • Regular exercise • Proper object lifting and moving • Proper nutrition • Avoidance of smoking

  9. Nutrition • Nutrition: • Calcium adds strength and stiffness to bones • Magnesium helps calcium absorption • Vitamin D through supplements or the sun • Balance is key

  10. Posture • Posture: • Bad posture can promote back injury • Stand straight, chin up with shoulders back • Sitting improperly can cause back pain

  11. Trauma • Trauma: • Trauma is a forcible impact to the body • Degree of damage may relate to other factors • Major causes of trauma include • Whiplash and impacts • Heavy lifting • Slips, trips, and falls

  12. Whiplash • Whiplash: • Caused by violent head movement in relation to the neck or lower spine • Usually arises from a sudden forcible bending of the neck

  13. Heavy, Repetitive, or Awkward Lifting • Heavy, repetitive, or awkward lifting: • Many companies limit amount people can lift • NIOSH’s Lifting Equation RWL = LC x HM x VM x DM x AM x FM x CM • Proper lifting requires training, practice, and attention to detail

  14. Impact • Trauma to the back can be caused by impacts: • Being struck by a moving object • Moving into a fixed object

  15. Slips, Trips, Falls • Many back injuries result from slips, trips, or falls: • About 300 fatal falls occur in U.S. workplaces yearly • Factors such as bone density contribute to injury

  16. General Fitness • General fitness: • Physical fitness is an important prevention factor • Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in the U.S.

  17. Section 2 Back Injury Prevention

  18. Back Injury Prevention • Preventing back injury: • A comprehensive strategy • Involves lifestyle and work environment

  19. Lifestyle Issues • Issues that contribute to back injury: • Nutrition • Alcohol • Caffeine • Smoking • Physical fitness

  20. Nutrition • Factors increasing risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and intestinal disorders: • High in animal and unhealthy fats • Low in fiber • High in processed foods • Low in complex carbohydrates • Low in plant-based foods

  21. Alcohol • Excessive alcohol intake: • Interferes with calcium absorption • Results in decreased bone strength • Has other adverse health effects

  22. Caffeine • Studies have shown that: • Women 65–77 drinking 300 mg daily show more bone loss • 2-3 cups can raise blood pressure about 10 points • Adults should have no more than: • Three 6 ounce cups of coffee • Four cups of regular tea • Six 12 ounce colas

  23. Smoking • Smoking cessation: • Trained personnel at the National Cancer Institute’s toll-free Cancer Information Service can help you at 1-800-4-CANCER • The American Cancer Society is also reachable at (404) 320-3333

  24. Physical Fitness • It’s never too late to start: • Find help at: • www.fitness.gov • Start slow, pay attention to your body, and stick with it

  25. Risk Factors in the Workplace • Some contributors to back injury include: • Reaching, twisting, or bending while lifting • Heavy or repetitive lifting of awkward items • Poor job design or lifting with forceful movement • Poor posture and/or physical condition • Fatigue and bad footing

  26. Section 3 Lifting

  27. Lifting Aids • If feasible, eliminate manual lifting: • Mechanical assists • Adjust height of surfaces • Eliminate unnecessary bending or twisting

  28. Manual Lifting • Never hesitate to ask for help with: • Excessive weight • Limited visibility • Changes in elevation • Twisting and turning

  29. Okay, So It’s Up to You Now • Lift using proper technique: • Plan the lift, the route, and size up the load • Squat, feet apart, don’t bend at waist • Get a firm grip and use legs • Keep your head up and maintain clear vision • When you arrive, lower slowly by squatting

  30. How Does This Look? • Repetitive lifting using poor technique can lead to back injury

  31. How About Back Belts? • Back belts: • Not recognized by OSHA as engineering controls • Effectiveness not proven

  32. Sitting at Workstations • Reduce muscle and skeletal system stress: • Adjust seat so thighs are nearly horizontal • Rest feet flat and comfortably • Angle between upper and lower legs is 60-100° • Angle between seat pan and back 90-100° • Use chair with curvature for back support

  33. Adjusting the Workstation • Adjusting the workstation: • Keep your elbows close to sides • Maintain 90° angle between upper and lower arm • Hold the wrist and forearm in straight line • Keep head up with monitor 18-25 inches from eyes • Line of sight to monitor 0-60° below horizon

  34. Driving • Rules for extended driving: • Sit upright with knees higher than hips • Adjust mirrors for neck comfort • Reset seat back position occasionally • Use support behind lower back for comfort • Keep pedals within easy reach

  35. Exercises • Spinal exercises: • Helps prevent spinal problems • Spines require good nutrition, stress management, and exercise • Make spine stronger and more resistant to injury

  36. Additional Information • Back Injuries – Nation’s Number One Workplace Safety Problem. OSHA Fact Sheet No. OSHA 93-09. • OSHA e-Tools for various industries, available at www.osha.gov • Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation. National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at (800) 553-6847 order number PB94-176930LJM.

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