Material Handling and

Back Safety Training

Gary Beaudette
Safety Officer
Environmental Health, Safety,
and Risk Management

For better viewing, please select ‘slide show’ Some information provided by
Oklahoma State University
Introduction
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
more than one million workers suffer back
injuries each year, and back injuries account
for one of every five workplace injuries

One fourth of all compensation claims involve back

injuries, which cost employers billions of dollars

Add to that the employees’ pain

and suffering…
Material Handling and Lifting Injuries are
exceedingly painful, difficult to heal, and
have an effect on everything you do

After suffering just one back injury, you

are much more likely to experience
another one later on

It is important to learn
how to avoid injuring or
re-injuring your back
 Objectives
At the end of this presentation, you should
be familiar with the following topics:

 Forces involved with lifting

 Risky moves associated with lifting
 Contributing factors to materials handling/lifting injuries
 Injury prevention
 Proper lifting procedures
 Using the Calculator For Analyzing Lifting Operations
 Body Management
 Work-specific training requirements
 The Forces Involved
The amount of force placed on your back under certain conditions can
be surprising. Anytime you bend or lean over to pick something up
without bending your knees, you put tremendous pressure on your
lower back.

Think of your back as a lever. With the

fulcrum in the center of the lever, it only
takes ten pounds of pressure to lift a
ten pound object.

However, if you shift the fulcrum to one side, it takes much more force to
lift the same object. Your waist actually acts like the fulcrum in a
lever system, and it is not centered. In fact, it operates on a 10:1
ratio. Lifting a ten pound object actually puts 100 pounds of
pressure on your lower back.
 The Forces Involved
When you add in the 105 pounds
of the average human upper torso ,
you see that lifting a ten pound
object actually puts 1,150 pounds
of pressure on the lower back.

Given these figures, it is easy to

see how repetitive lifting and
bending can quickly cause back
problems. Even leaning forward
while sitting at a desk or table can
eventually lead to back related
problems.
 Risky Moves
Certain actions are more likely to cause back
injuries than others. Anytime you find yourself
doing one of these things, you should think:
DANGER! My back is at risk!

Heavy lifting...especially repetitive

lifting over a long period of time

Twisting at the waist while lifting or

holding a heavy load. (This frequently
happens when using a shovel.)
Reaching and lifting...over your head,
across a table, or out the back of a truck.
 More Risky Moves
Lifting or carrying objects with
awkward or odd shapes

Working in awkward, uncomfortable

positions...gardening, kneeling, tasks that
require you to bend over for long periods of time...

Also, sitting or standing for too long

without shifting.
The further you bend, and the more you
extend your arms, the more significant
the risk of injury!
Other Causes of Injuries

 It is also possible to injure yourself

slipping on a wet floor or ice

 Tripping or falling over obstacles in

the walkway

 Improper use of lifting of moving equipment

 Contributing Factors to
Handling/Lifting Injuries

Poor Physical Condition…

 Your stomach muscles provide a lot of the
support needed by your back. If you have weak,
flabby stomach muscles, your back may not get all
the support it needs, especially when you're lifting
or carrying heavy objects. Good physical condition
in general is important for preventing strains,
sprains, and other injuries.
Contributing Factors to
Handling/Lifting Injuries

Poor posture…
 Is another contributing factor. When your

mother told you to sit and stand up straight,

she was giving you good advice. It is best to
try to maintain the back in its natural "S"
shaped curve. You want to avoid leaning
forward (unsupported) when you sit, or
hunching over while you're standing.
Contributing Factors to
Handling/Lifting Injuries

Extra weight…
 Can be a big problem. Remember

the fulcrum / lever principle? The

more you weigh, the more stress it
puts on your back every time you
bend over--on a 10:1 ratio.
Contributing Factors to
Handling/Lifting Injuries
Stress…
 Tense muscles are

more susceptible to
strains and spasms.
Contributing Factors to
Handling/Lifting Injuries

Overdoing it…
 Don’t be afraid to say, “This is too
heavy for me to lift alone.”

It’s important to recognize your physical

limitations and abilities. Many people have
injured their backs because they were afraid
to ask for help.
 Preventing Back Injuries
The best way to prevent back injuries is to develop
habits that reduce the strain placed on the back. There
are some basic things you can do to help.

Avoid Lifting and Bending Whenever You Can!

Place objects up off the floor. If you can set
Something down on a table or other elevated
surface instead of on the floor, do it so you won't
have to reach down to pick it up again.

Raise / lower shelves. The best zone for lifting is

between your shoulders and your waist. Put heavier
objects on shelves at waist level, lighter objects on
lower or higher shelves.
 Preventing Back Injuries

Use carts and dollies to move objects, instead of carrying them

yourself. (Remember that it is better on your back to push carts
than it is to pull them.)

Use cranes, hoists, lift tables, and other lift-assist devices

whenever you can.
Use Proper Lifting Procedures
 You can't always avoid lifting, but there are
ways to reduce the amount of pressure placed
on the back when you do so

 By bending the knees, you keep your spine in a

better alignment, and you essentially take away
the lever principle forces.

 Instead of using your back like a crane, you

allow your legs to do the work.
Use Proper Lifting Procedures
 Take a balanced stance with your feet
about a shoulder-width apart. one
foot can be behind the object and the
other next to it.

 Squat down to lift the object, but

keep your heels off the floor. Get as
close to the object as you can. Keep
your back straight.

 Use your palms (not just your fingers)

to get a secure grip on the load.
Make sure you'll be able to maintain a
hold on the object without switching
your grip later.
 Use Proper Lifting Procedures
 Lift gradually (without jerking) using your leg, abdominal and
buttock muscles and keeping the load as close to you as possible.
Keep your chin tucked in so as to keep a relatively straight back and
neck line.

 Once you're standing, change directions by

pointing your feet in the direction you want
to go and turning your whole body. Avoid
twisting at your waist while carrying a load.

 By following these lifting guidelines and by

practicing good body/back management,
you can prevent back injuries on the job and
at home.
 Other Lifting Tips
 Reduce the amount of weight lifted. If you're moving
a bunch of books, better to load several small boxes than
one extremely heavy load

 Keep a clear view ahead when carrying/moving a load.

Never carry a load in front of your face as it forces you to
lean or twist and upsets your balance

 Use handles and lifting straps

 Push a dolly or cart in a linear motion. Never pull,

as it forces you to twist at the waist!

 Get help if the shape is too awkward or the object is too

heavy for you to lift and move by yourself!
 How to determine if the load you
are moving is “too much.”
 Use the Calculator For Analyzing Lifting Operations
Form……. on next slide

 Easy to use formula based on factors such

as the weight to be lifted, at what
position you begin the lift from, the frequency
of lifting, and if twisting is involved

Simple result lets you know if lifting the

load could be hazardous or not
What is too heavy?
 Practice Body Management
 It's important to know your body's
limitations, and it's important to be
aware of your body position at all times
 Learn to recognize those situations
where your back is most a risk: bending,
lifting, reaching, twisting, etc.
 Then take measures to avoid an injury by
using this training whenever you handle
or lift materials
Finally…….
Don’t forget the 4 most common
causes of back injury

 Bending
 Reaching
 Twisting
 Heavy Lifting
 Very Important…..
Contact our department for
additional training…
 Your job may require the use of specialized tools
or equipment, not mentioned in this lesson, to
help facilitate the handling and movement of
materials
 Training is available for material handling
activities specific to YOUR work area!
 Actual hands-on training and practice, where the
content of this course is applied, should be
completed as soon as possible.
 Call us to schedule…. 474-5413
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