ML : Back Care - Basic Lifting

www.safetygoodwe.com

Chapter : Manual Material Lifting

Back Care - Basic Lifting

General Information: 
Back injuries are one of the leading causes of lost-time or restricted duty in the workplace and can lead to years of discomfort and disability.

Back injuries can result from many factors, to include but not limited to: 

• Repetitive motion 
• Weight of load being lifted 
• Duration a load is carried or held 
• Your height, weight, strength and gender 
• The position of your body when lifting or carrying a load 

Before you lift a heavy object, think of the following to help avoid injury:

• Do you need to lift the object manually? 
• How heavy is the item? 
• Where are you moving the object? 
• What route do you have to follow? 

Tips to Help Avoid Back Injuries 

• Stretch and exercise the back before starting each day or before lifting heavy loads 
• Inspect your work area for slip, trip and fall hazards 
• Lift with a partner or find lifting equipment to help move heavy loads 
• Wear back braces if required to lift and carry heavy loads or if your back needs to be supported for long periods 
• Avoid twisting and turning while lifting a load, use your legs to position and move your torso
• Move your work area closer to you to avoid unnecessary twisting and reaching 
• Avoid sudden jerks or pulls on a load that could cause an injury

Back, neck, and shoulder injuries are common in construction.

That’s because we do a lot of lifting – and not always with the best technique or from the best position.
Lifting is hard enough. Lifting in cramped or awkward conditions only makes it more difficult.

What’s the right way to lift?

• Plan your move.
• Size up the load.
• Make sure the pathway is clear.
• Get help if you need it.
• Use a dolly or other materials handling equipment wherever you can.

Get as close to the load as possible. This is very important. Our lifting capacity is reduced the further away we are from the load.

Put yourself in the best possible position for the lift. Try to avoid twisting from the waist, reaching out, and leaning over material or equipment when you lift.

Use a wide-balanced stance with one foot slightly ahead of the other.

Tighten your stomach muscles as you start to lift.

Keep your lower back in its normal curved position and use your legs to lift.

Pick up your feet and pivot to turn. Don’t twist your back.

• Lower the load. 
• Maintain the curve in your lower back.
• You can hurt your back just as easily lowering a load as lifting it.
• You can minimize the stress on your back... if you lift correctly.

For a two-person lift, partners should be about the same height to distribute the load evenly. They
should agree beforehand on

• Type of lift (waist-high, shoulder-high, etc.)
• Who will take charge
• How they will lower the load.

Let’s wind up with a few more tips.

• Avoid lifting above shoulder height. This causes your back to arch and puts a lot of stress on your shoulder and on the small joints in your spine.
• Don’t try to catch falling objects. Your muscles may not have time to coordinate properly to protect your spine.
• Push rather than pull. Pushing lets you maintain the normal curves in your back and puts less stress on the spine.