Post on 23-Aug-2018
Back/Manual Material Handling
Safety
Mike Papakyriakou
Occupational Health & Safety
Phone: 33477
E-mail: mikepapa@yorku.ca
yorku.ca/ergo
Revised Sep 10, 2013
If you are viewing this
document online, most of the
links will NOT work.
Please contact me for
assistance.
Phone: 416-736-2100 x33477 E-mail: mikepapa@yorku.ca
Causes of low back pain
• Video emphasizes sitting but also applies to any prolonged postures and bending
• Local
• Web (Spine and Discs)
Source: www.ergocentric.com
Just because we don’t feel pain,
doesn’t mean we aren’t damaging tissue
nerves on outside of disc
Source: ErgoCentric
What is affected if you have a bad
back?
• Work
• Recreation
• Walking
• Sitting
• Sleeping
• Everything you do!
Back Safety Quiz
• How to protect your back
• Not just at work
• Not possible to do everything right all the
time
• Try to do as many things right as you can
all the time
What posture is easiest for your back muscles?
• Stand upright
• Hands over low back muscles on each side of spine
• Above pelvis
• Below rib cage
• Lean forward
– What do you feel?
Workshop Activities
• Tell me and I forget
• Show me and I remember
• Involve me and I understand
- Chinese Proverb
Source: http://www.healthandsafetyontario.ca/bundles/ihsa/news/enews/construction/Aug2010/daniels_tackles_msds.html
Source: http://www.healthandsafetyontario.ca/bundles/ihsa/news/enews/construction/Aug2010/daniels_tackles_msds.html
Safe lifting zone
• Where should boxes be stored for easiest
removal? Assume no handles on boxes.
Small group: demo w pen
1
2
3
Back Safety Quiz #2 When lifting, bending, pushing, pulling:
A) TIGHTEN core muscles
B) RELAX core muscles.
http://www.bartleby.com/107/illus389.html
Protect spine by bracing,
tightening core muscles
Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Timber_frame.jpg
How to tighten your back muscles
• lean forward/return
• tighten abs/stomach
• hissssssss (loud, teeth
together)
Back Safety Quiz #3 When lifting, bending, pushing, pulling:
A) MAINTAIN the inward curve of your low back
B) FLATTEN the inward curve of your low back
Back Safety Quiz #4
After prolonged sitting or lying down:
A) Lift or bend immediately
B) Warm up before lifting or bending
After breaks
After driving
After sleeping
Back Safety Quiz #5
If you must lean forward or to the side:
A) Lean on something with your hand or elbow
B) Don't lean on anything
Hand on table
Hand on knee
Back Safety Quiz #6
A) Move with SMOOTH changes in speed
B) Move with SUDDEN changes in speed
Unintentional:
Slips and Falls
link to DOHS website
Carry a smaller load in each
hand
Source: www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/by_topic/assets/pdf/clean_sweep.pdf
Lifting long handled tools
http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/Ergonomics/Resources.asp?ReportID=24352
Back Safety Quiz #8
A) TWIST your back
B) DON'T TWIST your back
Shoulders &
hips facing
same direction
Easier when
moving feet
Back Safety Quiz #9
A) PUSH a cart
B) PULL a cart
• No twisting
• Line of force thru body
centre
• Low risk of running
over feet
Some objects are NOT designed for pushing
If you must pull, use 2 hands to prevent twisting
Avoid walking backwards
1-handed pushing & pulling
• Twisting force on
spine when line of
force is NOT through
body centre
• Keep hands close
• Switch hands
Clinic on Campus: Athlete’s Care
• Sports Medicine
Physicians
• Orthopedic Surgery
Consultations
• Physiotherapy
• Athletic Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Chiropractic
• Medical
Acupuncture
• Nutritional
Counseling
Back Safety Quiz #11
Switch to another activity:
A) BEFORE discomfort occurs
B) AFTER discomfort occurs
After discomfort is too late!
Back Safety Quiz #13
When standing for
prolonged periods:
A) place one foot on a
footrest occasionally
B) never move your feet
Back Safety Quiz #14
Using proper body mechanics:
A) lift any object no matter how heavy
B) some objects may still be too heavy to lift
What should we do if
something is too
heavy?
The weights indicated are guidelines only.
Some people can lift more, some can lift less.
Some situations that reduce the
amount of weight able to be
lifted:
•twisting
•lifting while sitting or
kneeling
•frequent lifting
•one handed lifting
•lifting in confined areas
with limited headroom, etc
•unstable objects
•lifting with high speed
motion
•poor environment (too
warm, slippery, etc)
•prolonged sitting or
bending prior to lift
•etc
If you think what you’re doing
could cause an injury …
• Ask for help and/or
let your supervisor
know
• Earlier the better
• Why don’t we ask for
help?
Problems and Solutions
Lift with your head,
not with your back.
Summit Examples
(not for office)
Safe lifting for the hands
Best grip?
Best grip?
Finger muscles supporting weight of object
Finger muscles not working as hard (paper demo, open fingers)
Demo: pinch ream of paper
Keep pinch grip to a minimum
• Use 2
hands
• If you must
use 1 hand,
alternate
hands
• At least 1
hand
beneath the
object
Power Lift Posture • Hold object
• Feet shoulder width apart
• Hold object between legs
• Arms close to vertical and straight
• Look ahead
• Natural low back curve
• Tighten core muscles
• Lower your butt
– pretend you attempting to sit on a chair
• REPEAT
• How low can you go? Video