Back Safety Controls

1. Back Safety Controls Presented by QBE Loss Control Services

2. Ergonomic Controls to Prevent Back Injuries

3. Hierarchy of Controls • Engineering • Administrative • Personal Protective Equipment

4. Engineering Controls • Most effective • Reduce or eliminate root causes • Physically alter the work environment

5. Most Important Principles • Can lift be eliminated? • If a person or machine has expended energy to lift an item, it should not be set down until it reaches its final destination

6. Engineering Controls • Reduce weight of objects • Change way materials moved • Reduce container weights and sizes • Change workstation layout

7. Engineering Controls • Bring load closer to the body • Raise or lower the origin and destination of lifts (avoid lifts below knees and above shoulder) • Reduce the vertical distance of lift • Move origin and destination closer or farther apart to reduce twisting • Improve object handholds

8. Administrative Controls • Management directed policies and practices • Do not eliminate hazard • Require employee feedback and close supervision

9. Administrative Controls • Job rotation • Reduce overtime • Increase recovery periods (more breaks) • Training • Reduce pace of lifting • Stretching or exercise programs • Two-man lift policies • Weight lifting limits

10. Back Training • Historically the main control for back injuries • Why?-Easy • Largely ineffective

11. Personal Protective Equipment • Least effective • Relies on each individual to reduce risk factors • Gloves- sharp edges, hot cold surfaces • Proper footwear

12. Back Belts- NIOSH Study • No differences in rates of injury between employees who wear back belts • No differences in rates of injury in facilities where back belts required • False sense of security • Weaken back muscles if not worn properly • Reduce circulation

13. Traditional Back Injury Controls • Back schools • Training in proper lifting techniques • Use of back belts

14. New Approaches to Back Injury Control • Employee selection/pre-placement strength testing • Physical fitness/wellness • JHA (Job Hazard Analysis) • Engineering Controls • Medical management of injured employees/ Transitional Return-to-Work

15. Prioritization of Controls • Tasks with highest risk factors • Tasks which impact the most employees

16. Selection of Controls • Will the control reduce risk factors? • Will the control add other hazards to the process? • Will the control increase or decrease productivity? • Is the control feasible? • Will the control be accepted? • How soon can the control be implemented? • Will the control require special Training?

17. Selection of Controls • Hold brainstorming sessions • Include engineering, maintenance staff, managers, employees • Contact vendors • Contact experts • Contact trade associations

18. Selection of Controls • Develop list of alternatives • Rate alternatives according to effectiveness and cost • Try to find alternatives that also increase productivity • Use cost benefit analysis or other financial tools • Determine best solution

19. Selection of Controls • Mock-up to evaluate control • Improve control as necessary • Use mock-up station to train employees • Bring control to full production • Anticipate initial resistance • Do not make final assessment until enough time has past

20. Evaluation of Controls • Have risk factors been reduced? • Are there less complaints of fatigue and discomfort? • Are injury rates reduced? • Have employees accepted the control? • Have rates of turnover and absenteeism been reduced? • Has there been an increase in productivity?

21. Lift tables • Positions materials at comfortable height

22. Lift and Tilt Tables • Lift reduces back bending • Tilt reduces reaching distance

23. Lift and Swivel Tables • Useful for working with pallets • Lift reduces back bending • Swivel reduces reach

24. Tilt Tables • Useful for retrieving parts from bins • Reduces back bending • Reduces reach

25. Turntables • Useful to access several sides of object

26. Load Levelers • Adjust automatically as weight added/removed • Eliminates back bending • Eliminates reach

27. Pallet Wrappers • Eliminate grasping forces • Eliminates awkward postures

28. Pallet Inverters • Useful for material transfers

29. Pallet Lifters • Useful for pallets • Reduces back bending • Reduces reach • Can move load

30. Pallet Jacks • Ideal for moving pallets • Reduces risk factors associated with moving objects

31. Lift Carts • Allows objects to be moved easily • Reduces back bending

32. Lift and Tilt Carts • Reduced back bending • Reduces reach

33. Tilt Carts • Useful for small parts transported in bins • Reduces reach • Reduced back bending

34. Load Leveler Carts • Portability of a cart • Adjust automatically as weight added/removed

35. Conveyors • Allow objects to be moved pushing/pulling • Can be powered

36. Articulating Arms • Support weight while load is manipulated • Numerous arm end-effectors available

37. Vacuum Lifts • Useful for handling bulky items • Useful for unloading/loading pallets

38. Cranes • Eliminates lifting

39. Cutout Tote Bins • Allow easy access to bottom of bin

40. Drop-side Bins • Allow full access to bottom of bin

41. Drum Carts • Useful for transporting 55 gallon drums

42. Drum Handlers • Reduces force and poor posture when moving drums

43. Drum Dumpers • Reduces back strain from awkward postures

44. Vacuum Cups • Useful for moving loads with smooth surfaces • Allow power grip posture

45. Forklift Attachments

46. Moving & Storage

47. Construction Work • Less regimented • Rarely follow set routine • Affected by weather, supplies, site conditions, etc.

48. Construction Controls