Back Injury Prevention

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SAVE Your Back!
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Back Injury Prevention

• Presented by
• The Risk Management
• Tort Defense Division
• Montana Department of Administration

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Before We Get Started

• Class Roster
• Handouts
• Todays Schedule
• Restrooms and Fountains
• Emergency Exits
• Certificates
• Questions?

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Can you recall your earliest recollectionof
Brushing Your Teeth ?
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• Your parents taught you at home
• The Health Nurse taught you at school
• Your dentist taught you
• Your parents reminded you
• Advertising encouraged you
• Friends and coworkers noticed you

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Why dont wecare for ourbackin the same way?
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• Bad Habits
• Lack of Knowledge

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Bad Habits
As An Infant We Knew to

• Lift with our knees
• Sit up tall
• Listen to our body
• Cry out when it hurt
• Take naps
• Take care of our self
• Dont take chances
• Eat right

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Lack of Knowledge

• Caring for your back is not a bedtime story
• Back safety is not a school subject
• Our parents dont tell us about it
• Our friends dont tell us about it
• Our friends dont practice it
• We dont get public awards for it

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Lack of Knowledge

• Its not a very interesting television show
• There are not large sports complexes for it
• Its not merchandised
• Back pain is just part of growing old
• We dont need it until after we need it

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Back Statistics

• Are you a statistic?
• Do you regularly experience back pain?
• A Recent Survey showed that 35 of the adult
  population in the United States regularly
  experience back pain.
• IT ONLY GETS WORSE!
• Unfortunately, back pain increases with age.

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ANATOMY OF YOUR BACK

• Muscle
• Bone
• Connective Tissue

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ANATOMY OF YOUR BACK

• 7 Cervical Vertebrae Neck
• 12 Thoracic Vertebrae Shoulders
• 5 Lumbar Vertebrae Lower Back/ Small of Back
• Sacrum 5 pieces Tail Bone
• Coccyx 4 pieces

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BACK INJURIES

• Usually caused by cumulative trauma versus acute
  trauma.

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Cumulative Trauma
Cumulative trauma occurs over an extended period
of time versus acute trauma which is sudden and
usually unexpected.
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BACK INJURIES

• Prevent back injuries through

• Proper Diet
• Posture
• Exercise
• Lifting Techniques

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Cumulative Trauma

• Named the occupational disease of the 90s
• The result of wear and tear on joints and tissues
• Arms
• Legs
• Wrists
• Knees
• Shoulders
• Neck
• Back

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Cumulative Trauma Scope of the Problem

• Accounted for 39 of all occupational injuries
  reported to OSHA in 1997!
• The number of claims has increase from 5 per
  10,000 employees to 40 per 10,000 employees!

• A 1993 estimate by the Academy of Orthopedic
  Surgeons cited lost earnings and medical related
  expenses of more than 30 billion annually!

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Activities That Put You At Risk

• Sleeping
• Sitting
• Work
• Lifting
• Bending
• Twisting

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Lumbar Support

• The presence and correct positioning of your back
  support is crucial. Remember, most back problems
  are cumulative in nature.
• Consider ergo chairs or ergo pillows.
• Not all ergonomic improvements are costly. Think
  of solutions as quick fixes and long term
  solutions.

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Risk Factors

• POSTURE - The positions we assume when we work.
  Why does poor posture often feel so good?
• FORCE - The amount of energy used to perform a
  certain task!
• REPETITION - The frequency with which we perform
  a task!
• STRESS

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Lifting

• Frequently lifting coupled with poor posture is a
  recipe for degenerative disc.
• Lifting suddenly with twisting, jerking actions
  causes disc compression.

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Demonstration(Degenerative Disc)
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Lifting
Remo! Lift with your knees, not your back!
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Common Lifting Mistakes

• Failure to plan the move.
• Poor stance.
• Lifting with legs straight and back bent.
• Use of fast, jerking motions.
• Failure to pivot.
• Failure to keep the load close.
• Failure to keep head above heart.

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Proper Lifting Technique

• Plan your move.
• Use mechanical lifts or aids where possible.
• Place one foot slightly ahead of the other,
  shoulder width.
• Bend knees slightly (power position)
• Keep head up and chin out.
• Keep the S curve in your back.
• Bend at the knees, not at the waist.
• Bend down and secure the load with your hands.
• Pull the load close to the body (keep it close).
• Lift the load using your legs and knees, not your
  back.
• Get help with heavy loads.
• Communicate the lift.

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Examples
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Personal Risk Factors

• Smoking
• Weight
• Exercise
• Stress

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During Moderate Periods of Stress

• 15 minute break every 2 hours.

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During Moderate Periods of Stress

• 15 minute break every 2 hours.
• Fresh Air.

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During Moderate Periods of Stress

• 15 minute break every 2 hours.
• Fresh Air.
• Carbohydrates every 2 hours.

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During High Periods of Stress

• 15 minute break every 2 hours.
• Fresh Air.
• Carbohydrates every 2 hours.
• Nap once a day

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LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!
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(No Transcript)
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QuestionsAnswers

• From the
  Risk
  Management Tort Defense Division,

Thank You!
For Attending Todays Course!