Your back is in motion all day, every day, even when you sleep. It bends when you sit, twists when you turn, lifts when you stand and supports you when you walk. Any job that involves heavy labour or manual material handling may include a high risk for back injury on the job. Strains and sprains are the most common type of back injuries, with WorkSafeBC accepting over 10, 000 back strain claims in 2021 alone.
1. Overexertion resulting from improper lifting of heavy or awkwardly shaped loads.
2. Twisting, bending, or jerking movements.
3. Working in awkward positions for extended periods of time.
4. Highly repetitive lifting or twisting.
5. Lack of physical conditioning or flexibility.
1. Stay in good physical condition
Having strong, fit muscles will ensure that you can maintain neutral postures throughout your workday.
2. Size up the load visually
Lifting a corner to determine if it’s too awkward or heavy to lift by yourself. Get a good grip; gloves may help.
3. Squat down
Do not bend at the waist. When you bend at the waist to lift, due to the leverage principal the load is up to 10 times heavier than its actual weight.
4. Get a good grip
Wearing proper gloves when lifting heavy loads can prevent the load from slipping which may cause you to awkwardly twist your body.
The results of a back injury can range from uncomfortable to disabling so it’s important that we do what we can to prevent them.
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