1. Back Safety/Lifting Techniques
Discuss any major injuries that have occurred.
Mention the most hazardous back safety jobs in the plant.

2. Back Activities Reaching, bending over, sitting, standing in one place
Skiing, hiking, bike riding
Playing with your children and grandchildren
Working and feeling productive
Discuss the activities that are pertinent to your plant.

3. Training Goals Back injury prevention
Use/learn proper lifting techniques
Learn back stretching techniques
Maintain/enhance high comfort level at work and home
Emphasize that this isn’t just for work, it’s a “quality of life” issue.

4. Back Facts
80% of Americans will have a back injury that requires medical attention
Back injuries are the second most common cause of lost work time, next to the common cold
Back injuries occur more often at home than they do at work
Injured backs are often subject to reinjury
In addition to missed work, there may be a lifetime of pain
Emphasize that many of these injuries are preventable.
Beside lost work time they may lose the ability to do activities at home, weekends lost!

5. Back Facts Back Parts Vertebrae Spinal cord Disks
Muscles, ligaments, tendons
Potential Back Injury
Strain or sprain
Bulging disk
Herniated disk
Emphasize the interconnection between parts.

6. Preventable Causes of Injury
Years of abuse
Poor posture
Unconditioned back
Excess weight and potbellies
Bad lifting techniques
Talk about physical conditioning.
Emphasize the correlation between stomach muscles and back pain.

8. Maintaining Back Health
Good posture - maintain the backs natural curves
Good physical conditioning
A strong stomach will help prevent back pain
Flexibility - the more flexible, the less chance of injury due to strains/sprains
Good lifting techniques - Bend at the knees
Emphasize good posture in all activities (standing, walking, sitting, sleeping, lifting, etc.).
Refer to attached hand out.

9. Helpful Exercises Walking Stretching (Regularly during day) Sit-ups
Leg lifts (Bend knees and lift)
Squats
Preventing back injuries has much to do with physical health.

10. Lifting Equipment
Powered equipment such as forklifts, powered carts, and electric pallet jacks
Handtrucks, carts, pallet jacks
Cranes and hoists
Conveyors
Discuss these that apply to your facility.

11. Have a Lifting Plan Size up the load Clear the path Unloading zone
Weight
Shape and size
Clear the path
Objects
Tight doorways or corners
Unloading zone
Employees need to know their limits.
Make sure they clear path; another injury due to trips could potentially be added.

12. Proper Lift Stand close with a shoulder-width stance
Squat by bending your knees and hips
Pull the load close and grip it
Tighten your stomach, lift your head
Rise up with your legs
Make sure you can see
Take small, stable steps
Do not twist your back
Refer to the “Proper Lifting Techniques” posters that are posted in the plant.

14. Proper Unloading Squat down with the load
Do not bend your back over with the load
Be careful of fingers
Shoulders level with the load
Slide the load close
Use your legs
Practice/demonstrate a proper lift?

15. Lifting Bags Squat down next to the bag Grab it at opposite corners
Lift it up to your thigh or waist
Stand up
Put the load on your shoulder

16. Team Lifting Designate a person to lead the lift Lift at the same time
Keep the load level
Unload slowly together
Emphasize that if one person twists or turns without the other knowing, it could result in injury. Lead person for each lift.

17. Think About Your Back Don’t be lazy Think long term
Don’t try to lift too much
Consider your back in all things
Emphasize “long term”. This is not just for the job it’s for life.

18. Summary Maintain back posture and conditioning
Use available lifting equipment
Have a lifting plan
Use your legs
Always think about your back