Blog4Safety wants to share this important message from Asons regarding the risks of heavy lifting. You may want to consider wearing a support belt if this is your line of work.
Tag Archives: Back injury
AVOIDING INJURIES DURING THE MOVE (GUEST POST)
Tips to Stay Safe When You Are Moving
How to Stay Safe and Fit As you Move?
Moving to another location can get exciting when you think about meeting new people and settling down in a totally different place. However, the stress involved in planning the move, packing and unpacking can take a toll on your health. Apart from the stress involved in moving, there is every possibility of suffering from minor and severe injuries.
Injuries are common due to lifting, loading and unloading items during the moving process. It is therefore important to consider certain safety tips prior to the big move in order to avoid injuries and have a smooth move. Keeping yourself safe during the move requires great attention. Here are a few safety tips to help you take care of yourself during the moving process.
Avoid Back Injury
Most of the injuries occur when you lift heavy items. You can hurt your back when lifting heavy items. In order to avoid back injury, you need to make use of legs for lifting items instead of your back. The best way to lift heavy items is by squatting down, grasping the item and lifting it with your legs, exerting pressure on leg muscles.
Distribute weight of boxes equally by packing items in various boxes, instead of dumping all items in one single box. This will make lifting boxes much easier.
Carry Filtered Water Bottles
A strenuous exercise like moving that involves lifting, packing and unloading heavy items dehydrates the body. In order to keep the body hydrated, it is vital to drink plenty of water during the moving process. Carry filtered water in a bottle in case the new place does not have water turned on.
Check Out for Risky Walkway Areas
Check out the areas around your home, particularly for bumpy sidewalks and dangerous walkway areas. There is every possibility of getting injured when loading items due to the risky walkway areas in your home. Ensure that the steps leading to your home are clearly seen and it is not slippery. The best way to avoid slippery areas is by placing mats on them, so that you don’t walk on such areas.
Besides, this there are other things you must duly consider for a safe move. These include poles, tree branches and pillars that can be a major obstruction during the moving process. It is imperative to get rid of these obstacles completely by removing them or marking the area with bright colored tiles.
In order to move special items, you must hire professional movers. Moving items like refrigerator, TV set, furniture and other large appliances require the help of professional movers.
Don’t forget to keep a safety aid kit with you when moving. This will help you treat minor injuries during the move. Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged and it has all numbers of people to be contacted during emergency in case you are seriously injured. I hope these safety tips will help you avoid injuries and allow you to have an enjoyable moving experience.
Author Bio:
Rony Mikal is a blogger and freelance writer. He writes extensively on topics related to environmental issues, business, moving, household removals and storage and removal services London. Apart from writing, Rony takes keen interest in traveling and photography. He is an avid traveler and spends quality time with family and friends.
MY ACHING BACK
It’s no wonder that back problems account for twenty percent of all work-related injuries. According to NIOSH, an estimated 20 – 50 billion dollars is spent per year on work-related back injuries. Poor posture causes weakness in our backs. Another source of back pain is overexertion, twisting, and working in awkward positions. Both NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and OSHA agree that there are many methods to advance the prevention of back injuries in the workplace.
Employers should select workers that are physically fit to handle the lifting tasks at hand.
It is also helpful for a company to know if the person has had any type of back injury in the past. As part of their training, they should:
- Undergo strength testing.
- Be taught proper lifting techniques.
- Avoid awkward posture.
- Undergo stretching programs.
- Learn the use of mechanical aids in lifting.
- Use PVC-dot grip gloves to reduce grip force needed to lift and carry heavy objects.
- Bend knees rather than back when lifting, carrying, or holding weighty items.
- Apply the use of forklifts, carts, or dollies when possible.
Companies should have a maximum weight limit that workers are expected to meet, with male/female limits set accordingly. The height of the subject to be lifted should be adjusted as well. Workers should be instructed the proper ways to lift, carry, push, and pull manual materials.
Healthcare providers are especially challenged with the duty of transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs. There are all types of equipment that accommodate this type of lifting, from electric beds, lift chairs, and other special hoists. Caregivers should first be trained in the proper methods of lifting, and know when to get someone to help them. Not only are they taking a chance on harming the patient, but causing injury to themselves, as well.
Proper Lifting Techniques
We use our back every day, whether we realize it or not. We twist, bend, push, pull, and lift all day long. Most of us don’t pay much attention to the movements and back muscles involved in these everyday actions. That is, until we pull a muscle in our back and have trouble doing simple things like sitting, walking, or even getting in and out of bed.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, there have been an average of nearly 270,000 reported back or spine injuries each year from 2003 to 2006. Fortunately, these numbers are steadily decreasing(303,750 in 2003, down to 250,670 in 2006), so progress is being made.
Most injuries probably could have been avoided by paying a little more attention to what we are doing and how we are doing it. Proper lifting techniques and using team lifting for heavier or awkward items help reduce the strain on your back muscles.
- Keep objects close to your body: Carrying objects close to your body helps keep the “load center” in balance. The farther from the body the item is, the more muscle strength needed to lift the item. This forces the muscles to move in ways they are not designed to move, which can cause a strain or pull.
- Bend your knees and keep your back straight: Focusing on keeping your back straight reduces the chances of twisting or bending in such a way that puts stress or strain on the muscles
- Lift with your legs: Your leg muscles are designed to lift. Using your leg muscles makes it easier to lift the item, as well as take the strain off your back.
Some jobs or hobbies require constant lifting and carrying. In these situations, it may be helpful to utilize a back support. They come in many different styles and are fairly inexpensive($17-$36). When compared to the national average of around $9,000 per incident for non-surgery medical expenses ($30,000+ for injuries requiring surgery), $36 and a bit of prevention is well worth the time and cost.