Safe Lifting
Disclaimer
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This training material presents very important information.
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Your organization must do an evaluation of all exposures,
applicable codes and regulations, and establish proper controls,
training, and protective measures to effectively control exposures
and assure compliance.
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This program is neither a determination that the conditions and
practices of your organization are safe nor a warranty that reliance
upon this program will prevent accidents and losses or satisfy
local, state or federal regulations.
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All procedures and training, whether required by law or not,
should be implemented and reviewed by safety and risk
management professionals, and legal counsel to ensure that all
local, state and federal requirements are satisfied.
Course Outline – Safe Lifting
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Why Take Safe Lifting Training?
Back Anatomy
Causes of Injury and Discomfort
Your Personal Preparation
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Specialized Lifting Techniques
What Else Will Help?
Summary
Why Take Safe Lifting Training?
Back injuries are the number one workplace safety
issue:
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Back injuries account for 20% of all injuries and illnesses in the
workplace. Only colds and flu account for more time off.
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Cumulative trauma injuries which include back injuries account for
31% of all workplace injuries and 43% of the cost of claims.
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These injuries result in costs and aggravation for the injured
person.
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They also create problems for the organization with lost time,
productivity impacts and higher insurance costs.
Why Take Safe Lifting Training?
Back injuries are the number one workplace safety
issue (continued):
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Preventive training and awareness is in everyone’s best interests!
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The General Duty Clause of the federal workplace safety statute
requires employers to provide employees with a workplace that is
“free of recognized hazards.”
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Employers should have an ergonomics program and back safety is
the foundation of an effective ergonomics program.
Back Anatomy
How your back works:
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The S-curve in your back acts
as a giant spring to support
weight.
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Discs provide cushion between
vertebra.
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Nerves branch out from spinal
cord.
Disc
Vertebrae
Back Anatomy
How your back works
(continued):
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Ligaments hold the skeletal
structure together.
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There are relatively few
muscles in the back. Support
comes from the stomach and
spine.
Back Anatomy
How your back works
(continued):
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Neutral posture is the proper
alignment of the body between
extremes. The ears, shoulders,
hips, knees and ankles are
aligned.
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This is the strongest and most
balanced position when stress is
most minimal.
Causes of Injury and Discomfort
The most common types:
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Strains from overused or overstretched muscles.
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Sprains from torn ligaments as a result of sudden movement.
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Herniated disk from the loss of the spine’s cushioning ability. This
is usually caused from strain and aging.
Causes of Injury and Discomfort
Contributing factors:
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Repetitive work, i.e., bending,
twisting, pushing, pulling and lifting.
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Slipping, tripping and falling.
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Twisting while spine is supporting a
heavy load.
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Heavy physical work.
Causes of Injury and Discomfort
Contributing factors (continued):
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Poor physical condition.
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Being overweight.
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Loss of flexibility.
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Body mechanics and work habits.
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Stressful living.
Your Personal Preparation
Your health:
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Maintain good physical health.
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Be properly rested.
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Eat right.
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Reduce stress in your life.
Your Personal Preparation
Stretching and strengthening:
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Stretching before exposure, both preshift and pre-task, will reduce the
likelihood of an injury.
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Routine strengthening exercises and a
physical fitness routine will also reduce
the likelihood of an injury.
Your Personal Preparation
Shoes and back support:
Shoes:
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Wear proper shoes for the job. They must include non-slip soles.
Back support recommendations:
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Optional use of a lifting belt for additional
back support may help if you are experiencing
any back issues.
The lifting belt helps by reminding you to use
proper body positioning and to not lift more
weight.
Note: NIOSH studies indicate that back supports do
not statistically reduce risk of injury.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Awareness and prevention:
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Attack the bottom level of the
accident triangle.
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Reduce overextension, twisting,
overloading, and non-neutral
posture at work.
1
Disability
10 Lost Time
100 Medical
1000 Sore Backs
MOST IMPACT
10,000 times of overextension,
twisting, poor posture, overloading
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Over-extension:
• Over-extension is reaching out
and away from the body which
greatly increases injury risk.
• The further a weight is from
the body, the more force
necessary to do the work.
• Moving closer to the load or
moving the load closer to the
lifter prior to lifting is one
control.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Over-extension (continued):
• For standing workstations you must have the work area in the
proper range.
Neck and arms are out of position.
Good neutral position.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Over-extension (continued):
•Set up the work area to keep weights close to you and at waist level.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Twisting:
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When we twist, our knee, hips and
shoulders are not in line.
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Twisting wears on the vertebra, disc
joints, and "unsprings" the back.
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To avoid twisting, a simple control is to
move your feet and/or to re-configure
your workstation.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Overloading:
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Lifting more cumulative weight
than our body can handle.
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Overloading is individuallybased. Ten pounds is too much
for some; others can lift 50.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Overloading (continued):
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Over-extension affects overloading.
The further the weight is from your
body, the greater the force on your
spine.
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Weight should be maintained close to
waist level centered between the
knees and shoulders.
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As a general rule, other methods of
handling such as two-person lifts or
manual material handling aids should
be used for weights over 50 lbs.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Bending and lifting:
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Lifting doesn’t have to be dangerous.
If you use proper techniques you can
protect yourself from injury.
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The spine acts as a large spring to
help reduce the muscle load. When
we “unspring" our spines, we correctly
force our muscles to do all the work.
Advice:
Too much pressure on the back
and not enough use of the legs.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Bending and lifting (continued):
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Ensure that the load is a safe weight.
Ensure it is safe and not hazardous.
Keep the feet apart and staggered.
Squat to lift and lower.
Minimize bending at the waist.
Keep the back bowed in while bending.
Get a good grip.
Keep the weight close to the body.
Keep load centered near the waist.
Turn with the feet and not the body.
Do not twist or jerk suddenly.
Scenarios: Proper Techniques
Neutral (anatomical) posture:
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Remain vertical and balanced.
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The farther out-of-neutral a worker is,
the greater the likelihood of injury.
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For the spine, never be more than one
step out-of-neutral.
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Being out-of-neutral affects other joints
in addition to the back: wrists,
shoulders, elbows, and neck.
Specialized Lifting Techniques
Heavy weight items:
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Stretch at the beginning of the shift
and prior to undertaking tasks.
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Clear the set point and path of travel!
Specialized Lifting Techniques
Higher weight items:
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Is it a safe lift? Consider other
options like using a two-person
lift or lifting equipment.
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Use legs, not back.
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Get close and cradle the load at
the center of the body.
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Have good grip surface.
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Keep load close to body during
handling.
Advice:
This lift should be centered closer
to the waist, using the legs to lift.
Specialized Lifting Techniques
Higher weight items
(continued):
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Use lift assist equipment.
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Keep load stable.
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Do not over-stack; make two
trips, if necessary.
Advice:
This load is unstable and unsafe.
What Else Will Help?
Check your surroundings:
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Is a clear path established? Remember the shortest way isn’t
always the smartest way.
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Is the ground and pathway stable, level and not slick?
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Is lighting sufficient?
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Is area adjacent and above
clear of obstructions?
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Is a clear set point established?
What Else Will Help?
Use mechanical help:
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Use dolly, conveyor, hand-truck, or
forklift options as needed.
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When using mechanical help,
remember that pushing, and not
pulling, allows more control and
greater leverage.
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Secure the load to equipment so
sudden stops don’t displace the load.
What Else Will Help?
Teamwork:
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Identify when and where two-person lifts are required.
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When you can’t handle it by yourself get help!
What Else Will Help?
Teamwork (continued):
•What poor practices or hazards
do you see in your company?
•What can be improved upon?
•What operational controls could
be used to help, i.e., scissor lifts,
packaging machines etc.
•Report issues to your safety
committee and management.
Summary
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Back injuries: Are the number one workplace safety issue,
resulting in costs to personnel and the organization.
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Strains, sprains and herniated disks: Are common injuries
that can be prevented with proper techniques when positioning,
moving, lifting, and carrying.
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Personal preparation: Requires maintaining good physical
health, stretching exercises and using proper shoes and
equipment.
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Proper techniques: Use to reduce overloading, overextension,
twisting, unsafe lifting and poor posture.
Summary
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Specialized lifting techniques: These are required for heavy and
higher weight items.
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Check your surroundings: In advance to ensure the work area is
hazard free and safe.
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Mechanical help: Forklifts, hand-trucks, etc. will make the job
easier and safer.
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Rely on teamwork: To assist on heavy lifts and to identify areas of
improvement and additional equipment that will enhance operations.
Safe Lifting
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