Occupational Back Injuries During Manual Handling of Material
INDEX PAGE
INTRODUCTION 3
ERGONOMICS 4
OBJECTIVES OF ERGONOMICS 4
RESULTS OF ERGONOMIC APPLICATIONS 5
THE BACK STRUTURE 6
BACK AND BACK PROBLEMS 6
Back injuries 6
Causes of back injuries 7
The following are common causes of back injuries: 7
Back injury prevention 8
Back injury-preventative techniques 8
Techniques 9
Strategies 9
ORIGINAL LIFTING MODEL 10
Strain index (SI) = 10
Action limit 11
Maximum permissible limit 11
Administrative controls 12
Engineering controls 12
Limitations of the NIOSH lifting model 13
LEGISLATIVE TRENDS: STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES 13
CONCLUSION 14
APENDIX 1 15
REFERENCES 16 OCCUPATIONAL BACK INJURIES DURING MANUAL HANDLING OF MATERIAL
INTRODUCTION
Almost one third of all disabling injuries at work, temporary or permanent are related to manual handling of objects. Many of these incidents are avoidable and are the consequence of inadequate or simplistic bio-mechanical task analysis.
Injuries associated with manual materials handling have grown substantially and are currently estimated to exceed several billion dollars annually in the USA. In addition to the compensation costs are the tremendous costs associated with the suffering of the impaired workers.
Manual material handling injuries can result from lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying objects while performing activities .
Some of the most traumatic and costly manual material handling injuries impact on the back, more specifically the lower back has been the area of concern in most studies examining the low back pain associated with manual material handling.
Lifting, handling and dragging loads involve a good deal of static effort, enough to classify as heavy work. The main problem with these forms of work however is not the heavy loads on the muscles, but much more the wear and tear on the intervertebral disks with the increased risk of back troubles.
Back troubles are painful and reduce one's mobility
INTRODUCTION 3
ERGONOMICS 4
OBJECTIVES OF ERGONOMICS 4
RESULTS OF ERGONOMIC APPLICATIONS 5
THE BACK STRUTURE 6
BACK AND BACK PROBLEMS 6
Back injuries 6
Causes of back injuries 7
The following are common causes of back injuries: 7
Back injury prevention 8
Back injury-preventative techniques 8
Techniques 9
Strategies 9
ORIGINAL LIFTING MODEL 10
Strain index (SI) = 10
Action limit 11
Maximum permissible limit 11
Administrative controls 12
Engineering controls 12
Limitations of the NIOSH lifting model 13
LEGISLATIVE TRENDS: STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES 13
CONCLUSION 14
APENDIX 1 15
REFERENCES 16 OCCUPATIONAL BACK INJURIES DURING MANUAL HANDLING OF MATERIAL
INTRODUCTION
Almost one third of all disabling injuries at work, temporary or permanent are related to manual handling of objects. Many of these incidents are avoidable and are the consequence of inadequate or simplistic bio-mechanical task analysis.
Injuries associated with manual materials handling have grown substantially and are currently estimated to exceed several billion dollars annually in the USA. In addition to the compensation costs are the tremendous costs associated with the suffering of the impaired workers.
Manual material handling injuries can result from lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying objects while performing activities .
Some of the most traumatic and costly manual material handling injuries impact on the back, more specifically the lower back has been the area of concern in most studies examining the low back pain associated with manual material handling.
Lifting, handling and dragging loads involve a good deal of static effort, enough to classify as heavy work. The main problem with these forms of work however is not the heavy loads on the muscles, but much more the wear and tear on the intervertebral disks with the increased risk of back troubles.
Back troubles are painful and reduce one's mobility