Lifting Hazards and some ideas on how to reduce your risk of lifting injury - PowerPoint Presentation

Lifting Hazards and some ideas on how to reduce your risk of lifting injury

By the end of this slideshow you will be able to: Identify the 3 types of lifting that may cause injuries Review ergonomics principles used in reducing lifting hazards and preventing injuries Contact L&I resources for assistance

This means that about 1/3 of sprains and strains are attributed to lifting. That makes it one of the largest single sources of injury in Washington workplaces. 17,000! (34%) There are 50,000 sprains and strains in Washington every year. How many of them are due to lifting? Statistics on Lifting Injuries

13% of Hand/Wrist sprains and strains 22% of Elbow sprains and strains 43% of Back sprains and strains 30% of Shoulder sprains and strains Lifting results in: Lifting Injuries Aren’t Just Back Injuries

Source: American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE, 2003) “Overexertion in lifting a heavy object is the most frequent single type of injury for those under 18 resulting in lost work-time.” Lifting Injuries Aren’t Just Due to Aging

Awkward lifting Frequent lifting Heavy lifting Pay special attention to…

The bags weigh anywhere from 50 to 80 pounds. Moving bags of dry ingredients from a pallet to a hopper. Heavy Lifting

He lifts 5 to 6 totes per minute for most of the day Taking totes of small parts off a conveyor and stacking them on pallets Frequent Lifting

Lifting 50-pound bags of wet fiberglass out of a deep shipping tote Lifts that are: Above the shoulders Below the knees At arms’ length Awkward Lifting

Links to these tools are in the appendix at the end of this slide show L&I/Oregon OSHA Lifting Calculator Other tools: ACGIH Lifting TLV NIOSH Lifting Equation Analysis tools

Reduce the weight Increase the weight Use mechanical assistance Slide instead of lift Team liftingPrinciples for reducing heavy lifting

Plastic pallet 20 pounds Wood pallet 60 pounds Reduce the weight of the load Reducing heavy lifting

And use machines to move it Increase the weight of the load Reducing heavy lifting

Pneumatic conveyor Use mechanical assistance Reducing heavy lifting

Slide instead of lift Reducing heavy lifting

Team lifting Reducing heavy lifting

Use mechanical assistance Avoid unnecessary lifting Use mobile storage Principles for reducing frequent lifting

…use mechanical assistance I nstead of lifting by hand…Reducing frequent lifting

Use mobile storage: Parts stay on racks as they move from one manufacturing process to the next Reducing frequent lifting

Rotate to other jobs Use mechanical assistance Principles for reducing duration of lifting

Rotate to non-lifting tasks Reducing duration of lifting

Remove obstacles Slide closer Reduce shelf depth Reduce package size Use mechanical assistanceTeam liftingPrinciples for reducing awkward lifting - reaching -

Cut-out in side of tote allows easier access Remove obstacles Reducing awkward lifting - reaching -

“Homemade” hook for pulling small boxes to edge of shelf Slide objects closer Reducing awkward lifting - reaching -

Flow racks bring boxes to the front of shelves Reduce shelf depth Reducing awkward lifting - reaching -

Reduce package size Reducing awkward lifting - reaching -

Electric hoist can lift two bags at a time Use mechanical assistance Reducing awkward lifting - reaching -

Team lifting Reducing awkward lifting - reaching -

Principles for reducing awkward lifting - bending - Use mechanical assistance to raise the load Add handlesArrange storageAvoid unnecessary lifting

Scissor-lift cart Use mechanical assistance to raise the load Reducing awkward lifting - bending -

Add handles Reducing awkward lifting - bending -

Heavy items at waist level Reducing awkward lifting - bending - Rearrange storage

Tire hanger keeps wheels up off the floor in auto shop Avoid unnecessary lifting Reducing awkward lifting - bending -

Arrange storage Use mechanical assistance Use a rolling stair or “safety ladder” Principles for reducing awkward lifting – reaching above shoulders -

Arrange storage Reducing awkward lifting – reaching above shoulders -

“Stacker” lift device has hand winch to raise and lower platform Use mechanical assistance Reducing awkward lifting – reaching above shoulders -

Combining 2 half-height stacks instead of lifting overhead Use mechanical assistance Reducing awkward lifting – reaching above shoulders -

Use a rolling stair Reducing awkward lifting – reaching above shoulders -

Use conveyors Provide more space Arrange storage Principles for reducing awkward lifting - twisting -

Allows boxes to be unloaded and checked in with minimal lifting Use conveyors Reducing awkward lifting - twisting -

More space means less bending and twisting Re-arrange storage Reducing awkward lifting - twisting -

How to find ideas Resources: Your employees Your suppliers Your industry associationIndustry-specific equipment catalogsProduct vendorsInternet searches

Lni.wa.gov\ ErgoIdeas Ergonomics Ideas Bank

Teaching lifting techniques to employees: Giving training alone is not effective Making changes to jobs and equipment is better Making changes along with training is most effective Lifting techniques training

Job-specific, on-site, hands-on training is more effective than classroom Have employees demonstrate proper lifting techniques before “graduating” Lifting techniques training

Lifting Calculators L&I / Oregon OSHA Lifting Calculator NIOSH Lifting Equation calculator NIOSH Lifting Equation app NIOSH Lifting Equation user manual Appendix - Links

We offer free, confidential consultations to help you prevent sprains and strains in your workplace. To learn more: Email – Ergonomics@Lni.wa.gov Call – (360) 902-5450Click – Ergonomics Consultation BrochureHelp from L&I at no cost to you

Thank you for your time and attention You’re done!