Rutherford County Safety Training

1
Rutherford County Safety Training
Preventing Strains Sprains
2
Course Outline

• Objectives
• Become familiar with hazards in your workplace
  that lead to the risk of sprain strain injuries
• Know how to reduce the risk of strain sprain
  injuries
• Assessment
• 5 question quiz

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Types of Strain Injuries

• Strain Sprain injuries are due to stretching
  muscles beyond
• their limit which in turn damage ligaments
  tendons
• Back (Most Common)
• Shoulder
• Knee
• Ankle
• Elbow
• Wrist

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The Numbers

• Rutherford County Strains Sprains injuries
  Stats
• Body Part 2007 2008
  2009 (YTD)
• Back 15 27
  5
• Leg/Knee 16 14
  2
• Shoulder 10 20
  1
• Arm/Hand 8 14
  2
• Other 11 8 1
• Total 60 83 11

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How it Happens

• Strains Sprains Occur During the following
• Lifting
• Pushing/Pulling
• Overreaching
• Slips, Trips Falls
• Repetitive Motion
• Standing/Sitting in Awkward Positions

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Risk Factors

• Consider the following to reduce the risk of
  Strain Sprain Injuries
• Time Frame
• Duration of exposure
• Frequency
• How often the motion is repeated
• Intensity
• Weight of items lifted and relocated

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Reduce The Risk

• Reducing Low Work
• Raise and/or tilt the work for better access
• Use a stool for ground level work
• Alternate between bending, kneeling, sitting and
  squatting

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Reduce The Risk

• Reducing High Work
• Use an elevated work platform or rolling stairs
• Use tools with longer handles
• Limit overhead storage to infrequently used items
• Bring work down to a more comfortable level and
  tilt for easier access

9
Reduce the Risk

• Clear Your Working/Walking Paths
• Clean up spills/avoid walking on wet floors
• Avoid placing cords across walking paths
• Secure mats rugs
• Sufficient Lighting in working/walking areas
• Report damaged walking areas

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Key Prevention Step

• Just as an athlete prepares for a sporting
• event by stretching warming up, we
• should consider this routine before
• we begin any physical job task.
• Stretch
• Core muscles everyday
• Before lifting, pushing, pulling reaching
• Prior to physically demanding tasks
• Between repetitive motions

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Applying Safety Thinking

• Report all unsafe working conditions to your
  supervisor immediately
• Be aware of your surrounding to help prevent
  future accidents (Situational Awareness)
• Dont try to be a hero, use common sense and
  always ask for help if you find yourself in a
  challenging situation
• Plan your lift Reduce the size/weight, Utilize a
  mechanical lifting device(when possible) Clear
  your walking/working area

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Safety Training Contact

• For answers to questions, interactive discussion
  or
• Other information related to Preventing Strains
• Sprains, please contact
• Tim Street
• Training Development Specialist
• 898-7715
• tstreet_at_rutherfordcounty.org

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Quiz

• Click on the link below to take a 5-Question
  Quiz.
• https//secure.rutherfordcountytn.gov/strains_spra
  ins/Default.aspx
• You must take the quiz to receive credit for the
  Safety Training.
• Once you have linked to the quiz, please enter
  your Social Security Number
• at the top. You will need to enter it according
  to the example shown
• (ex. 999-99-9999 with hyphens included). Once
  finished with the questions,
• lease click the submit button and your training
  will be recorded.