Back to the Basics

Working at almost any job means facing the risk of a back injury. Back injuries are more likely when a job requires lifting heavy objects or working in tight spaces, both things that aircraft mechanics do on a daily basis. The Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers back injuries to be the No. 1 workplace safety issue. In addition NIOSH, or the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, considers one of the top 10 leading workplace injuries to be back injuries. It reported that back injuries account for 27 percent of all nonfatal injuries that resulted in time away from the job. It is important to learn the proper technique for lifting, and other smart practices for protection from back injuries.

Consequences

Time away from the job is not the only consequence of a back injury. A back injury can lead to serious pain (short and long-term), the need for surgery or extensive therapy, and can cause a delay in projects at work. It is also often forgotten that the back contains many bones, muscles, and ligaments that connect with other parts of the body offering them support. This means that a back injury can also affect the ability to move the limbs, neck, or head.

Back injuries are prevalent but there are many healthy and responsible ways to dodge their occurrence. Prevention can be maintained with the use of proper lifting techniques and taking action to strengthen the back, as well as modifying the workplace to make it more lift-friendly.

Workplace modification

Laura Nystrom, who heads the global ergonomics leadership team at DuPont, suggests storing heavy or often used items up off the floor. If feasible, consider repositioning shelves along the walls of the workspace at a more appropriate height for storing heavier items.

“The most-used items, as well as some heavier items used less frequently, should be at waist height. We want to get them up off the floor so we can avoid bending. When we bend, from a physics perspective, not only are we handling the object we are lifting, but we are also trying to maneuver and control the weight of our upper torso which is roughly 60 percent of our entire body weight.”

At DuPont the employee training creates an awareness of situations where lifting poses a risk of injury. According to Nystrom, these efforts have proved successful.

“The efforts are twofold. The company is identifying and eliminating risk factors, and our employees have learned what they can do for themselves in terms of setting up their workplace, being aware of how the dynamics and stressors can affect their body, and making good decisions on and off the job.”

It is important that employees do understand that they face some of the same risks of injuring their back at home as they do in the hangar. In many cases, at work or home, an injury could have been prevented if the individual had simply thought about what they were about to do, practicing self-awareness. None of this knowledge is pertinent if we are not starting with a healthy base to build our lifting techniques off of.

A healthy base

As an individual, we can keep our commitment to back safety by starting with a healthy base to build from. People who are in good shape are less likely to injure their backs. Even activities as simple as walking regularly help to strengthen muscles in the abdomen and back.

As strong as we may feel, it is still important to be careful when making the decision to lift something. Having a strong back and abdomen will help to support the spine when lifting, but no matter how muscular we are, our spine and disks still feel the same amount of pressure.

Nystrom explained, “A large muscular person lifts a load and the same amount is lifted by a smaller person. The discs in their backs are still realizing the same amount of compression or weight, regardless of their muscle mass. Even though you can lift heavier loads, you shouldn’t.”

Lifting right

Once the work area has been altered to store items at a height around waist level, and the individual is maintaining a healthy back and lifestyle, the focus is on form when lifting. Starting with a strong back is great, but it won’t help when not lifting properly. When lifting and working in the hangar these tips on technique should be followed:

Do’s

• Bend at the knees, squatting in front of an object to lift it
• Lift slowly and carefully, using leg muscles to lift
• Use the same techniques as lifting when putting an object down
• Use a mechanical lift with heavier objects
• Ask for assistance when a heavy object must be lifted manually
• Keep the object being lifted as close to your body as possible
• Use a ladder to reach objects that are above shoulder height
• Perform exercises that will strengthen the back muscles
• Tighten abdominal muscles when lifting
• Push when using a jack, rather than pull

Dont’s

• Use other structures like cabinets for leverage when lifting
• Wear back belts when lifting as they do not reduce spinal compressions
• Bend at the waist when lifting
• Lift using your back muscles
• Bend over an object you are lifting
• Reach for an object before seriously considering your ability to lift it
• Stress back in an awkward stretch while reaching

Additional resources

There are many resources available for both individuals and organizations to educate themselves on proper lifting and back safety. Mechanics can educate themselves personally, but it may prove more effective for hangar supervision to develop a back safety oriented culture.

Supervisors can access safety material such as videos and posters that feature proper lifting techniques. DuPont offers various safety-oriented products for preventing injuries on the job, along with limited ergonomic consulting. As part of the consulting, DuPont consultants may visit the hangar and identify activities performed that may contribute to a back injury. They will work with client design groups and develop ways to avoid or prevent back injuries, as required.

Another successful program offered by DuPont is STOP (TM), Safety Training Observation Program, comprised of a family of products that aid in the developing of a safety-oriented culture in the workplace. Included is STOP (TM) for Ergonomics, which focuses on hazard awareness; indentification of ergonomic risk factors, such as akward posture and forceful exertions; and prevention of injuries. Witht the help of STOP (TM), hangar employees can better learn how to spot and prevent potential back injuries.

For more information on STOP (TM) and DuPont workplace safety offerings, call (800) 532-SAFE.

In addition to the services provided by companies such as DuPont, OSHA offers video training on its website at http://www.free-training.com/osha/back/backmenu.htm. It also offers various other materials including literature and videos for learning about the many aspects of back safety.