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Back Injury Prevention & Safety Program Purpose
The purpose of this safety policy and procedure is to establish
guidelines and procedures for implementing the [COMPANY] Back Protection
Program. Back injuries represent the most common type of workers’
compensation claim. Jobs within our company with high rates of back injuries
tend to be those requiring a great amount of manual load handling.
Eliminating and/or minimizing back injuries can result in lower workers’
compensation costs and promote the well-being of employees. It is the policy
of our company to provide a place of employment that is free from recognized
hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees or the public. Therefore, management will administer a back
protection program and at risk employees will receive the required training.
When lifting hazards exist that cannot be eliminated, then engineering
practices, administrative practices, safe work practices, Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE), and additional training regarding Back
Protection will be implemented. These measures will be implemented to
minimize those hazards to ensure the safety of employees and the public.
Definitions
Behavior Modification -
Changing an employee’s action or motions from a negative, accident/injury
prone behavior to a positive, safe action or motion.
Mechanical Equipment - Any device designed to aid in moving
material including cranes, hand trucks, pallet jacks, forklifts, etc.
Lifting Belt - A support designed for the lumbar area of the lower
back to provide additional support when lifting.
Risk Factors - Exposures and personal characteristics that affect
an individual’s chances of experiencing pain associated with lifting
related injuries to the back.
Responsibilities
Managers/Unit Heads - Managers/Unit
Heads are responsible for ensuring that adequate funds are available and
budgeted for the purchase of equipment and supplies to aid in minimizing
lifting related back injuries. They will also be responsible for
identifying the employees affected by this safety policy and procedure.
Managers/Unit Heads will obtain and coordinate the required training for
the affected employees. Managers/Unit Heads will also ensure compliance
through their auditing process.
Supervisors - Supervisors will be
responsible for communicating appropriate needs to managers/unit heads
and/or supervisors. Supervisors will ensure that employees are properly
trained before using lifting belts and that they are being worn properly.
Supervisors will ensure that no employee is required to lift beyond his or
her capabilities. Upon request, employees are to receive assistance in
lifting.
Employees - Employees are to report
any unsafe act associated with this policy to their supervisors. Employees
are to report any injury to their immediate supervisors. Employees that
are assigned lifting belts are to maintain them and have them replaced
when torn or frayed. Employees must attend the company Back Safety
Training program before being authorized to use lifting belts or
related personal protective equipment.
Safety Department - Safety
Department will provide prompt assistance to managers/unit heads,
supervisors, or others as applicable on any matter concerning this safety
policy and procedure. Safety will assist in developing or securing the
required training and will provide Back Safety training at the
request of managers/unit heads. Safety will also work with Purchasing
Departments ensure that all newly purchased lifting related equipment and
supplies comply with current safety regulations. Additionally, Safety will
provide consultative and audit assistance to ensure effective
implementation of this safety policy and procedure.
Training
Employees who perform manual lifting shall attend Back Safety
training on proper lifting techniques. Back belts are not to be used or
assigned to employees until they complete the Back Safety
training. Training shall be provided upon initial employment and/or new job
assignment. Periodic refresher training shall be conducted at the discretion
of the supervisor. Training will include, but is not limited to, proper
lifting techniques, proper use of the back belt, injury prevention, and
behavior modification.
Risk Factors
There are major differences in the ability of individuals to withstand
lifting and other demanding physical labor. Because back pain results from
different circumstances, an individual’s exposure and personal
characteristics affect his or her chances of experiencing lifting related
back injuries. Work related risk factors have been identified from various
studies and include:
• Heavy lifting and heavy work
• Frequent lifting
• Lifting loads near one’s strength capacity
• Occasional very stressful load handling
• Sudden unforeseen events (accidents)
• Prolonged standing or sitting
• Other suspected risk factors, including whole body vibration,
pushing, pulling, carrying, twisting, and bending
• Employee’s physical condition
Other personal factors that make certain individuals more susceptible
to back injury are not included in the above list. Those jobs and tasks
that have several or many of the above risk factors should receive a
higher priority in assessing your operation’s back injury risks.
Identifying Jobs with Risk Factors
Focusing on the more significant problem areas of back injury potential
is the most cost-effective approach in examining the jobs and tasks in your
operation. A two-stage prioritizing scheme is recommended when examining
your manual lifting operations. First, identify those jobs that involve many
of the risk factors. Second, for those identified jobs, specific lifting
tasks should be singled out for further analysis. This program includes
forms to identify jobs and specific lifting tasks at higher risk levels of
lifting related back injuries. Once these specific lifting tasks are
identified, the Lifting Task Analysis should be used to
quantitatively assess those lifting tasks.
Minimizing Lifting Related Back Injuries
Once specific lifting tasks are identified and assessed, if required,
examine options to eliminate or minimize those lifting related back
injuries. Look at:
• Elimination of the lifting
• Substitution of the nature of task, if elimination is not possible
• Control stress level imposed on the back when lifting if the two
previous approaches do not work
Back Protection Flow Chart
This is the FIRST part of
this Written Safety Program
The rest of this program can be found in the Members Area
You can join for only 79 cents a day!
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