Back Safety Controls
Presented by QBE
Loss Control Services
Ergonomic Controls to Prevent Back Injuries
Hierarchy of Controls
• Engineering
• Administrative
• Personal Protective Equipment
Engineering Controls
• Most effective
• Reduce or eliminate root causes
• Physically alter the work environment
Most Important Principles
• Can lift be eliminated?
• If a person or machine has expended
energy to lift an item, it should not be set
down until it reaches its final destination
Engineering Controls
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Reduce weight of objects
Change way materials moved
Reduce container weights and sizes
Change workstation layout
Engineering Controls
• Bring load closer to the body
• Raise or lower the origin and destination of
lifts (avoid lifts below knees and above
shoulder)
• Reduce the vertical distance of lift
• Move origin and destination closer or farther
apart to reduce twisting
• Improve object handholds
Administrative Controls
• Management directed policies and
practices
• Do not eliminate hazard
• Require employee feedback and close
supervision
Administrative Controls
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Job rotation
Reduce overtime
Increase recovery periods (more breaks)
Training
Reduce pace of lifting
Stretching or exercise programs
Two-man lift policies
Weight lifting limits
Back Training
• Historically the main control for back
injuries
• Why?-Easy
• Largely ineffective
Personal Protective Equipment
• Least effective
• Relies on each individual to reduce risk
factors
• Gloves- sharp edges, hot cold surfaces
• Proper footwear
Back Belts- NIOSH Study
• No differences in rates of injury between
employees who wear back belts
• No differences in rates of injury in facilities
where back belts required
• False sense of security
• Weaken back muscles if not worn properly
• Reduce circulation
Traditional Back Injury Controls
• Back schools
• Training in proper lifting techniques
• Use of back belts
New Approaches to Back Injury Control
• Employee selection/pre-placement
strength testing
• Physical fitness/wellness
• JHA (Job Hazard Analysis)
• Engineering Controls
• Medical management of injured
employees/ Transitional Return-to-Work
Prioritization of Controls
• Tasks with highest risk factors
• Tasks which impact the most employees
Selection of Controls
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Will the control reduce risk factors?
Will the control add other hazards to the process?
Will the control increase or decrease productivity?
Is the control feasible?
Will the control be accepted?
How soon can the control be implemented?
Will the control require special Training?
Selection of Controls
• Hold brainstorming sessions
• Include engineering, maintenance staff,
managers, employees
• Contact vendors
• Contact experts
• Contact trade associations
Selection of Controls
• Develop list of alternatives
• Rate alternatives according to
effectiveness and cost
• Try to find alternatives that also increase
productivity
• Use cost benefit analysis or other financial
tools
• Determine best solution
Selection of Controls
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Mock-up to evaluate control
Improve control as necessary
Use mock-up station to train employees
Bring control to full production
Anticipate initial resistance
Do not make final assessment until
enough time has past
Evaluation of Controls
• Have risk factors been reduced?
• Are there less complaints of fatigue and
discomfort?
• Are injury rates reduced?
• Have employees accepted the control?
• Have rates of turnover and absenteeism
been reduced?
• Has there been an increase in productivity?
Lift tables
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Positions materials at comfortable height
Lift and Tilt Tables
• Lift reduces back bending
• Tilt reduces reaching distance
Lift and Swivel Tables
• Useful for working with pallets
• Lift reduces back bending
• Swivel reduces reach
Tilt Tables
• Useful for retrieving parts from bins
• Reduces back bending
• Reduces reach
Turntables
• Useful to access several sides of object
Load Levelers
• Adjust automatically as weight
added/removed
• Eliminates back bending
• Eliminates reach
Pallet Wrappers
• Eliminate grasping forces
• Eliminates awkward postures
Pallet Inverters
• Useful for material transfers
Pallet Lifters
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Useful for pallets
Reduces back bending
Reduces reach
Can move load
Pallet Jacks
• Ideal for moving pallets
• Reduces risk factors associated with
moving objects
Lift Carts
• Allows objects to be moved easily
• Reduces back bending
Lift and Tilt Carts
• Reduced back bending
• Reduces reach
Tilt Carts
• Useful for small parts transported
in bins
• Reduces reach
• Reduced back bending
Load Leveler Carts
• Portability of a cart
• Adjust automatically as weight
added/removed
Conveyors
• Allow objects to be moved
pushing/pulling
• Can be powered
Articulating Arms
• Support weight while load is
manipulated
• Numerous arm end-effectors available
Vacuum Lifts
• Useful for handling bulky items
• Useful for unloading/loading pallets
Cranes
• Eliminates lifting
Cutout Tote Bins
• Allow easy access to bottom of bin
Drop-side Bins
• Allow full access to bottom of bin
Drum Carts
• Useful for transporting 55 gallon drums
Drum Handlers
• Reduces force and poor posture when
moving drums
Drum Dumpers
• Reduces back strain from awkward
postures
Vacuum Cups
• Useful for moving loads with smooth
surfaces
• Allow power grip posture
Forklift Attachments
Moving & Storage
Construction Work
• Less regimented
• Rarely follow set routine
• Affected by weather, supplies, site
conditions, etc.
Construction Controls