Safe Lifting Basics From BLR 7 Minute Safety Trainer & Horizon Goodwill Safety Committee

Safe Lifting BasicsSafe Lifting Basics

From BLR 7 Minute Safety From BLR 7 Minute Safety TrainerTrainer

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Horizon Goodwill Safety Horizon Goodwill Safety CommitteeCommittee

GoalsGoals

This safety session teaches employees to:This safety session teaches employees to:

• • Realize that lifting incorrectly can cause Realize that lifting incorrectly can cause back injury.back injury.

• • Know how to lift properly to protect the Know how to lift properly to protect the back. back.

Applicable Regulations: General Duty Clause 5(a)(1) Applicable Regulations: General Duty Clause 5(a)(1)

2215 Slides15 Slides

Back Strain and Back Injury Back Strain and Back Injury Cause Serious Pain and Cause Serious Pain and DisabilityDisability

The back supports the body. One wrong The back supports the body. One wrong move or repeated stress on weak back move or repeated stress on weak back muscles can cause pain and injury. muscles can cause pain and injury.

• • Back injuries are one of the most Back injuries are one of the most common causes of work-related disability. common causes of work-related disability.


Back Strain and Back Injury Back Strain and Back Injury Cause Serious Pain and Cause Serious Pain and DisabilityDisability

• • Back pain is the second-leading cause of Back pain is the second-leading cause of lost work days, after the common cold.lost work days, after the common cold.

• • Once back strain occurs, it often returns. Once back strain occurs, it often returns.

• • Back injury often requires extended bed Back injury often requires extended bed rest and, in some cases, surgery. rest and, in some cases, surgery.

Continued….


Personal Habits Can Make Back Personal Habits Can Make Back Injury More Likely Injury More Likely

• You’re more likely to have a back injury if You’re more likely to have a back injury if you’re in poor physical condition, you’re in poor physical condition, overweight, under stress, have poor overweight, under stress, have poor posture, or overexert yourself. posture, or overexert yourself.

• • Regular exercise can strengthen back and Regular exercise can strengthen back and stomach muscles. stomach muscles.


Personal Habits Can Make Personal Habits Can Make Back Injury More LikelyBack Injury More Likely

• • Always consult your doctor before starting Always consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.an exercise program.

• • Sit and stand straight; poor posture strains Sit and stand straight; poor posture strains the back. the back.

• • Be realistic about what you can carry and Be realistic about what you can carry and what you can do; overdoing can cause what you can do; overdoing can cause lasting damage. lasting damage.

Continued….


Lifting Is a Major Cause of Job-Lifting Is a Major Cause of Job-Related Back Injury Related Back Injury

• Lifting too much, or lifting improperly, puts Lifting too much, or lifting improperly, puts too much strain on the back. too much strain on the back.


Avoid Lifting Manually When Avoid Lifting Manually When Possible Possible

• Test the weight and stability of the object Test the weight and stability of the object you want to move by lifting one corner you want to move by lifting one corner slightly.slightly.

• If it’s too heavy for safe manual lifting: If it’s too heavy for safe manual lifting:

- Use material handling aids like - Use material handling aids like dollies, dollies, hand trucks, or forklifts hand trucks, or forklifts

- Get another person to help you lift - Get another person to help you lift


Plan and Prepare Before You Plan and Prepare Before You LiftLift

• • Stretch and bend gently to loosen muscles.Stretch and bend gently to loosen muscles.

• • Choose the straightest, flattest, clearest Choose the straightest, flattest, clearest route to your destination.route to your destination.

• • Remove anything from the route that could Remove anything from the route that could trip or block you. trip or block you.

• • Wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles, gloves Wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles, gloves to provide grip, and clothing you won’t trip to provide grip, and clothing you won’t trip over. over.


Lift Properly, So Your Legs Lift Properly, So Your Legs Do the Work—Not Your Back Do the Work—Not Your Back • • Stand close to the load, with feet shoulder Stand close to the load, with feet shoulder

width apart and firmly on the floor. width apart and firmly on the floor.

• • Bend at the hips and knees and squat Bend at the hips and knees and squat close to the load; keep your back straight. close to the load; keep your back straight.

• • Grip the load firmly with both hands, not Grip the load firmly with both hands, not just your fingers. just your fingers.


Lift Properly, So Your Legs Lift Properly, So Your Legs Do the Work—Not Your Back Do the Work—Not Your Back

• • Bring the load close to your body, keeping Bring the load close to your body, keeping your weight centered over your feet. your weight centered over your feet.

• • Stand slowly with your back straight and Stand slowly with your back straight and let your legs push you up. let your legs push you up.

Continued….


Avoid Back Strain Avoid Back Strain While CarryingWhile Carrying• • Carry the load waist high.Carry the load waist high.

• • Be sure you have a good grip and can see Be sure you have a good grip and can see where you’re going. where you’re going.

• • Walk slowly, taking small steps.Walk slowly, taking small steps.

• • Stop along the way to rest if you need it. Stop along the way to rest if you need it.

• • Move your feet to turn direction. Don’t Move your feet to turn direction. Don’t twist! That’s a major cause of injury. twist! That’s a major cause of injury.


Unload Carefully Unload Carefully

• • Lower the load slowly, with your knees Lower the load slowly, with your knees bent. bent.

• • Place your hands so they don’t get caught Place your hands so they don’t get caught under the object while unloading.under the object while unloading.

• • Place the load on the edge of the surface Place the load on the edge of the surface and slide it back. and slide it back.

• • Stand slowly. Stand slowly.


Conclusion: Proper Lifting Conclusion: Proper Lifting Can Prevent Back InjuryCan Prevent Back Injury

• Minimize manual lifting. When you do lift, Minimize manual lifting. When you do lift, do it correctly so that your legs do the do it correctly so that your legs do the work— not your back. work— not your back.


Need Additional Need Additional Information?Information?

• Ask your Supervisor or ManagerAsk your Supervisor or Manager

• Contact your location Safety Committee Contact your location Safety Committee MemberMember

• Check the Safety Information section in Check the Safety Information section in the Employees Only websitethe Employees Only website

• E-mail E-mail [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Safe Lifting Basics From BLR 7 Minute Safety Trainer & Horizon Goodwill Safety Committee