Back Injury Prevention Safety

Back Injury Prevention

Why Back Injuries Occur

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.

The back has many interactive parts

  • Vertebrae, spinal cord, and disks
  • Muscle, ligament, and tendon Injuries occur when they are torn, stretched, bruised, strained, or cut

Back Injury prevention:

  • Maintain Proper Posture
    • Maintain the back’s natural curves, stand straight, sit properly, improve your posture, stretch regularly
  • Condition Your Back

Physical conditioning, stay flexible and limber, lose excess weight, exercise.

  • Avoid lifting and bending whenever you can
  • Place objects up off the floor
  • Use carts and dollies
  • Use cranes, hoists, lift tables, and other lift-assist devices whenever you can
  • Test the weight of an object before lifting by picking up a corner
  • Get help if it’s too heavy for you to lift it alone

Lift Properly

  • Stand close with a wide stance
  • Bend at the knees
  • Pull the load close and grip it
  • Tighten stomach, lift your head
  • Rise using your legs