Manual Material Handling

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Manual Material Handling
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• Back Injury Facts
• 70 of cases Average weight of object lifted
  was 40-100 and 30 were over 100
• The distance traveled at the time of injury was
  less than 5 feet
• 50 of the cases, the object was lifted from the
  ground level
• 83 of the cases, the back was fully or partially
  flexed or bent

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Back Injuries

• They are exceedingly painful, difficult to heal,
  and have an affect on everything you do.
• After suffering one back injury, you are much
  more likely to experience another one later.
• The most costly type of injury for the State of
  Georgia.
• 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.

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• Injuries
• Sprain
• Injury or tear of ligaments.
• Ligaments are tough connective tissue that
  connect bone to bone.
• Strain
• Injury to muscles that have been stretched or
  used too much.
• Both strains and sprains irritate the muscles
  around them.

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• Causes of Back Injuries and Back Pain

• Repeated Lifting of Materials
• Lifting Too Much Weight
• Sudden Movements, Shift of Load
• Whole Body Vibrations
• Lifting Twisting at the same time
• Bending over for long periods of time

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Our Backs

• The spines vertebrae are held together by
  ligaments.
• Muscles are attached to the vertebrae by bands of
  tissue called tendons (think of them as rubber
  bands).
• Between each vertebra is a cushion known as a
  disc (think of it as a pad or pillow).
• Spinal Column (think of the vertebrae as building
  blocks).

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Our Backs

• Openings in each vertebra line up to form a long,
  hollow canal.
• The spinal cord runs through this canal from the
  base of the brain.
• Nerves from the spinal cord branch out and leave
  the spine through the spaces between the
  vertebra.

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Forces Involved in Lifting
Think of your back as a lever. With the
fulcrum in the center of the lever, how many
pounds would it take to lift a 10 pound object?
5 pounds10 pounds15 pounds
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Forces Involved in Lifting

• Youre right!
• It takes 10 pounds of pressure to lift a 10 pound
  object.
• Will it take more or less force to lift the same
  10 pound object with the fulcrum shifted to one
  side?

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Forces Involved in Lifting

• Youre right!
• With the fulcrum shifted away from the object, it
  takes more force to lift the object.

The human back operates on a 101 ratio, with the
waist acting as the fulcrum.
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Risky Moves!

• 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.
• Twisting at the waist 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.

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Risky Moves! Common Lifting Errors

• Poor planning
• Poor communication
• Insufficient strength
• Lifting with flexed spine and the legs straight
• Using a fast, jerky movement
• Bending and twisting at the same time

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Manual Handling

• Seek help
• When a load is too bulky to properly grasp or
  lift.
• When you cant see around or over the load.
• When you cant safely handle the load.
• Attach handles to loads to reduce the chances
  of getting fingers smashed.

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Safe Lifting

• Break load into parts.
• Get help with heavy or bulky items.
• Lift with legs, keep back straight, do not twist.
• Use handling aids such as steps, trestles,
  shoulder pads, handles, and wheels.
• Avoid lifting above shoulder level.

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Contributing Factors

• 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.

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Contributing Factors

• 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.

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Contributing Factors

• 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
  101 ratio. That pot belly is not helping the
  health of your back.

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Injury Prevention Analysis Tools

• The closer to the body the more strength you
  have.
• Other tools
• ACGIH Lifting TLV
• NIOSH Lifting Equation
• Most models show approximately 35 pounds to be
  the maximum load for repeated lifting.

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Injury Prevention

• 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.

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Injury Prevention

• Avoid lifting and bending whenever you
  can.

Place objects off the floor that way you
wont have to reach down to pick them
up again. Raise/lower shelves.
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Injury Prevention -

• When lifting a box, think out of the box!
• Is there a better way?
• Dont wait for someone to get injured before
• changing a job.
• Just because we have done it this way in the
  past, do we have to continue using the same
  method to handle a loading and unloading task?

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Injury Prevention Reducing frequent lifts

• Use mechanical assistance
• Avoid unnecessary lifting
• Use mobile storage shelves

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Proper Lifting

• 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, allow
  your legs to do the work.

Think of your body as more of an elevator than a
crane.
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Proper Lifting

• BEFORE YOU LIFT
• Plan Your Route Path clear? Trip hazards
  removed? Dry?
• Assess the Load Too heavy? Can I use a hand
  truck or forklift? Can I slide it?
• WHEN YOU LIFT
• Lift It Right Position your body close to the
  object. Keep your back straight.
• Lower It Right When you put the load down, bend
  your knees not your waist.
• GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT
• Work Together Don't be a hero. Communicate
  with your partner!

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Proper Lifting Procedures Lifting Options
Golfers Lift

• Only appropriate for light objects that can be
  lifted with one hand
• Good lift for those with painful knees
• Bend at hip with while raising one leg behind you
• Leg lift helps maintain a neutral spine
• Place one hand on thigh or fixed object
• Push hand off thigh or object while lowering leg
  to complete lift

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Prevent Back Injuries

• Body Management

Rest your back Take frequent, short (micro)
breaks (seconds not minutes). Stretch. If you've
ever been working in an awkward position for a
long time, then stood up and felt stiff and sore,
you know you've been in that position too long,
and your body is now protesting. Taking a one
minute stretch break every now and then can help
you avoid that.
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Conclusion
Point Take-A-Way
Basic anatomy of the back Blocks, rubber bands, pillows
Forces involved with lifting 110 ratio, Keep load close to body
Risky moves associated with lifting No twisting with loads No reaching
Contributing factors to materials handling injuries Fitness, age, walking surfaces
Injury prevention Reduce your lifts, THINK! Mechanical help
Proper lifting procedures Elevator vs. Crane Use proper lift for load
Body Management Stretch, Exercise, Rest as needed