The National Safety Council’s National Safety Month continues this June with Week 2’s theme, which is Work Ergonomically.
Explain to your trainees that ergonomics is the study of designing procedures and equipment to prevent workers from unnecessary injuries.
Warn your employees, for example, that if they use awkward postures to complete their job tasks, they may put unnecessary stress on muscles and tendons. This stress can lead to back pain, tendonitis, and damage to joints by forcing muscles and tendons out of their natural positions.
In addition, awkward postures such as the following, can lead to a risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs):
- Reaching overhead
- The amount of force the body must maintain in order to hold the awkward position
- Holding fixed positions, such as bending and twisting, known as static loading
- Lifting an object while twisting, reaching, or turning
Great news! BLR’s renowned Safety.BLR.com® website now has even more timesaving features. Take our no-cost site tour! Or better yet, try it at no cost or obligation for a full 2 weeks.
Describe and/or demonstrate the ergonomic procedures or tools and equipment that your organization uses to help workers avoid these awkward postures. In particular, emphasize to your trainees that proper lifting is crucial to good ergonomics. Make sure your workers take the following precautions to prevent painful back injuries:
- Use lifting aids whenever possible, especially when lifting repetitively or lifting heavy objects.
- Never twist your back while lifting—instead, move your feet so that your trunk stays straight, or rearrange your work area so that twisting is not necessary while lifting.
- Always lift with your legs, not with your back. Squat down, bring the load close to your body, and lift with your legs.
- Use a stepstool or ladder, if you need to lift something above your shoulders. Remember never to use the top two steps or rungs.
- Don’t try to be a hero—if an object is too heavy for you to lift, get help from either a mechanical lifting aid or from another employee.
- Keep your back in top shape by exercising and keeping your weight down. For example, doing sit-ups regularly will help strengthen both your stomach and back muscles, both of which help in the lifting process. This will help prevent injuries from occurring.
Your one-stop safety management resource, available 24/7. Go here to take a no-cost site tour or here to try it in your own office!
Why It Matters
- In one recent year, there were 283,800 total cases of MSDs that resulted in at least one lost day from work.
- MSDs are almost entirely avoidable with the correct training and performance.
- Your role in this training is crucial for the safety and success of your employees and your employer.