Lifting and Back Injuries

What your employees need to know about safe lifting and how it helps the back

"What your employees should understand about safe lifting and its benefits for the back Safe lifting can be summarized in a few simple words: Keep objects close and maintain proper posture. The best approach is to minimize lifting whenever possible. In numerous situations, there is equipment available that can fully automate or assist with lifting and handling tasks. This includes hand trucks, dollies, pallet jacks, and forklifts. Using this equipment helps alleviate strain on the back and reduces the risk of injury. However, there may be instances when manual lifting is unavoidable for your employees. Ensuring that your employees use the correct lifting technique helps lessen the strain on their backs.

What your employees need to do to lift safely

Before lifting, employees should

• Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Engage in stretching to warm up their muscles

•  Assess the weight of the load

• Evaluate if the load can be divided into smaller parts.

• Decide on the best way to hold the load and seek assistance for heavy or cumbersome loads

• Confirm that the path of travel and the area where the load will be placed are free of obstructions.

When lifting an object, ensure it is kept close. The most effective way to handle any object is to:

• Keep the object in front,

• At waist level, 

• As close to the body as possible.

There is a specific point just below the belly button that serves as the body’s center of gravity. When handling lifting and materials, our bodies function most effectively when we keep the load at this central position. Moving the load away from this center of gravity increases the physical effort required to support and stabilize the body. It then becomes necessary to exert additional effort to lift or move objects. This added stress puts more strain on the back and raises the risk of injury. Maintain the natural curves. The spine serves as the primary structural column of the human body. In the image, the spine is shown in its natural alignment, exhibiting three curves—one in the neck, one in the upper back, and one in the lower back. It is important to preserve this alignment when lifting an object. When bending at the hips and knees, keep your feet flat on the ground, maintain a wider stance with one foot slightly in front of the other, and gaze straight ahead (rather than down at the item being lifted). This will help ensure that the spine remains properly aligned. By doing so, workers are able to utilize the power in their leg muscles to lift, thereby reducing pressure on the back. Conversely, bending over at the waist disrupts the spine's natural alignment and increases the strain on the back.

What to cover at your safety meeting on safe lifting and back injuries

Engage your employees in a conversation about the specific types of materials required for lifting in their roles and the potential risk of injury associated with improper lifting techniques. It's important to demonstrate the correct lifting technique, and you can utilize the Hazard Checklist: Lifting Techniques to assess employees. Additionally, make hand trucks and other lifting aids available and encourage employees to use this equipment whenever possible. Ensure they are aware of where the equipment is stored and remind them to return items to their designated locations for easy access by others. It's important to emphasize that back injuries may not manifest immediately, often developing over time due to the strain caused by improper lifting. Encourage discussions with employees about the importance of maintaining a naturally aligned spine and keeping lifted materials close to the body. Using incorrect techniques may not cause immediate pain, but it can lead to future complications.

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