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Safe Lifting: Avoiding A Painful Back

This document provides information on safe lifting techniques to prevent back injuries. It notes that back injuries account for nearly 20% of workplace injuries and billions in costs annually. Most back injuries are caused by slips, trips, falls, poor posture, incorrect lifting techniques, and jobs requiring high energy. The document emphasizes the importance of lifting within the safe lifting zone between the knees and shoulders, using proper form, getting assistance for heavy loads, and avoiding twisting when lifting.

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GADHOUMI WALID
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26 views22 pages

Safe Lifting: Avoiding A Painful Back

This document provides information on safe lifting techniques to prevent back injuries. It notes that back injuries account for nearly 20% of workplace injuries and billions in costs annually. Most back injuries are caused by slips, trips, falls, poor posture, incorrect lifting techniques, and jobs requiring high energy. The document emphasizes the importance of lifting within the safe lifting zone between the knees and shoulders, using proper form, getting assistance for heavy loads, and avoiding twisting when lifting.

Uploaded by

GADHOUMI WALID
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SAFE LIFTING

Avoiding a Painful Back


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.

2
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.

3
Leading Back Injury Factors

⚫ Poor posture
⚫ Poor physical condition
⚫ Incorrect lifting
⚫ Jobs that require high energy

4
THE SPINE’S BASIC FUNCTIONS

⚫ Providing support
⚫ Protecting the spinal
cord
⚫ Providing flexibility to
allow bending and
rotating

5
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

6
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

7
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

8
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

9
PUSH-- DON’T PULL

Can you slide it


instead of lifting
it?

10
Do you need equipment to help move it?

⚫ Use proper equipment


– Hand trucks
– Forklifts
– Dollies
– Use gloves if needed

11
Must you twist or stretch to get it?

⚫ Readjust the load or


your position before you
lift.
⚫ Get help!

12
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?

13
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
14
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
15
WHEN YOU LIFT

Do Not
⚫ Lift from the floor
⚫ Twist and lift
⚫ Lift with one hand
(unbalanced)
⚫ Lift loads across
obstacles

16
WHEN YOU LIFT

Do Not
⚫ Lift while reaching or
stretching
⚫ Lift from an uncomfortable
posture
⚫ Fight to recover a dropped
object (let it go!)

17
One-handed Lift

18
Twisting

19
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.

20
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.

21
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

22

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