Back injuries can occur whether an employee sits at a desk all day or does manual labor on a jobsite. Safety and health of employees should be a top priority for companies. Prevention is key to keeping employees healthy and working. Back injuries tend to dominate the majority of long-duration claims, according to Concentra, a health and wellness company with 312 urgent care and occupational medicine centers in over 40 states.
Six leading causes of back injury:
Traumatic events
Poor posture
Poor physical condition
Improper body mechanics
Lifting awkward objects
Assuming awkward positions
Share the following lifting techniques and body mechanics provided by Concentra with all your employees to help prevent possible back injuries:
Plan your lift mentally before you do it physically
Test the object's weight before lifting it. If you will need to carry the object any distance, check that you have a clear walking path
Ask for assistance from a co-worker when appropriate
Use the stronger leg muscles by bending the knees, not the back
Support the back by maintaining 'core' strength with the abdominal muscles
Maintain a neutral lumbar spinal curve
Keep the object close to the body
Avoid twisting and bending
Avoid rapid, jerky movements
Maintain good balance by keeping the feet apart approximately shoulder width
Remember to breathe
In addition, Concentra suggests a few other keys to a healthy back:
Change positions frequently to avoid prolonged and awkward postures
Take time to think about your work tasks and determine if there is a better, safer way of doing them with less risk
Warm up and stretch prior to heavy physical exertion
Regular exercise is the best way to avoid problems with your back, and is the key to recovery from simple strains, aches, and pains you might experience
If you do encounter back pain, maintain normal activity as much as possible, even when in pain, and avoid bed rest
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