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LiftingIntroduction/Background
Back injuries can be painful, costly, and often cause workers disabilities and lifelong problems. In many industries and in many pork operations, back injuries account for the largest amount of lost-time and economic losses from injury. Ultimately, producers pay for these costs in the form of lost work time by productive employees or through worker’s compensation insurance costs. Back and other lifting-related injuries can result from lifting heavy bags of feed, carrying dead animals, moving feeders and gates for cleaning, or moving power washers from building to building. Here are a some of the very important risk factors that can contribute to back injuries. Even relatively small weights lifted can contribute to a back injury: --Lifting a load beyond your capability The best way to prevent back injuries is to use a mechanical device or other means to minimize the forces of lifting. A good example is a dolly, hand truck, dead-hog mover cart, or other device that can help you lift and carry heavy objects. You can also lift with a helper or find other smart ways to lift less weight. For example, often times, producers will purchase heavy products (like feed, or additives) in slightly smaller packaging to minimize the back injury risk. For those tasks where lifting cannot be avoided, following safe lifting procedures will reduce your risk of back, shoulder, knee, and other lifting-related injuries. Here are some points to remember: • Don’t begin any lifting task
first thing in the morning when you are still “cold”
you’re your body is still stiff. Allow for 20 minutes
or more of movement and moderate activity before you begin
lifting. Lifting pigs can be a very difficult task as they can sometimes weigh just as much, if not more, than you. When lifting pigs there are specific guidelines you should follow. For pigs weighing less than 40 pounds do the following: • Position yourself alongside and to
the rear of the pig to be lifted; Here are other general points to remember that are known to reduce the overall risk of a back injury from a specific work task. The more of these measures you can take, the less the risk to workers: • Minimize the amount of weight to be
lifted. Q: Why are lifting injuries involving the back so common? A: First, lifting is a common task and is sometimes not avoidable. Second, your back (and its muscles, bones, and other tissues) are rather fragile. When you lift, your back is like a lever, and the muscles in your back experience large forces that can easily lead to injury. The further the pbject is from your body, the greater those forces become. It’s like being on the ery short end of a teeter totter. The further your “load” from the midpoint, the more force you have to exert to lift. This leads to injury. Q: Is there any relationship between a person’s weight and their back injury potential? A: Yes. Because you are lifting the weight of the object being lifted, AND your upper body when performing a lift. People who are overweight will have a greater risk of a back injury. Q: What is the NIOSH lifting equation, and how can I use it? A: The NIOSH lifting equation is used by people who specialize in ergonomics to re-design work stations and systems to minimize risk for back injuries. While it’s complicated, we can use the variables in the equation effectively without actually having to use the actual equation. The equation shows that risk is lessened by any/all of the following: • Minimize the amount of weight to be
lifted. Need several links here, and suggest linking to THAT section of the PPSS chapter, plus the VIDEO, and the PowerPoint presentation. BACK
INJURIES - NATION'S NUMBER ONE WORKPLACE SAFETY PROBLEM
(OSHA)
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