Philippine Association of Safety

Engineers

MATERIAL HANDLING &

BACK SAFETY
Norman Flores Carido
Senior HSE Officer
KEO International Consultants
26th September 2014, Friday

1
 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…
 Hazards
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

Tw isting at the w aist 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 w ith
aw k w ard or odd shapes

W ork ing in aw k w ard, uncom fortable

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.
Weight Calculation
 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
4 Common Back Injury
 Any Question?
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Philippine Association of Safety Engineers

S. H. E. Q. *** 2014
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