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BACK CARE: YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

“OUCH! Why did I try to lift that much weight on my own?” Did you ever ponder those words after you hoisted something heavy, or lifted from an awkward position? These incidents are well known causes of back strain, but you might not have considered other “underlying” factors that lead to back injury. Several conditions influence your “back health.”

The cause of most back problems is poor posture, loss of flexibility, stressful living/working habits and above all, a general decline in physical fitness. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. When you “let yourself go,” (and most of us do with age) the first thing to go can be back strength. Along with correct lifting techniques, we should also work on our overall physical condition.

Nutrition–is an important key to staying physically fit! As we grow older, our metabolism slows down. To counteract this natural event, we have to eat the right types of food-and not too much of it-or the pounds come on quickly! Now, what does nutrition have to do with a healthy back? For one thing, a healthy back is correctly balanced on your spine. With a “sway” back, that balance is lost-and those darned potbellies cause sway backs. Carrying around excess weight puts tremendous strain on back tissues, so lifting even a small extra load may cause an injury.

Exercise–plays an important role as well. A form of exercise as simple as walking 30 minutes a day can raise your heart rate and burn enough calories to help keep you lean. Flexibility is another condition that changes as we grow older, if we don’t work to retain it. It’s true, as they say-”Use it or Lose it!” Without flexibility, we lose our body’s full range of motion. Then, when a sudden, physical demand takes a muscle or joint further than it’s used to, the risk of injury is high. You can do stretching exercises every morning to keep yourself flexible and ready for the physical demands of work. After all, don’t athletes warm up before a game to prevent injury?

Fixed positions–not moving enough–can also cause back problems. Staying in a fixed position for too long can lead to muscle spasms. We feel it as stiffness, but by the time discomfort from “static” muscle contractions is experienced, low level tissue damage has begun. Take stretch breaks between long standing or sitting periods to improve circulation and prevent back strain.

Poor body mechanics and bad lifting habits usually “trigger” a back injury-and are more likely to do so if overall physical condition is poor. Remember these techniques to help escape injury:

* Avoid using fast, jerking motions when lifting.
* Avoid bending and twisting at the same time.
* Avoid handling a load too far away! Keep the load close to your body.
* Teamwork! If the load is too heavy, two persons should carry the load.

Emotional Stress leads to mental distraction, so that things other than proper body mechanics are on your mind. Stress and back pain seem to go together. Low back pain has been called “a tension headache that slipped.” Solving our personal problems isn’t always easy to do, but it often takes away back pain and helps prevent repeated injuries.

In Conclusion: Improper lifting isn’t the only thing that causes back injuries. People who do not also stay in good physical and mental condition are at high risk for back problems.

It’s Up To You–Take Good Care Of Your Body and Save Your Back!

Safety Recommendations:_______________________________________

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DRESS FOR THE JOB

Our clothes and footwear are our first line of defense when it comes to protecting our bodies. Each day we wear our work clothes for eight, ten and sometimes even more hours, and there is nothing worse than working in uncomfortable clothing and/or poor fitting footwear. Although your work clothes are very important to your safety and health, your comfort is also a consideration. You need to have clothes that are right for the job. They must be sturdy and durable, and capable of standing up to heavy wear and tear. You need clothes that will keep you warm in winter and cool in the summer, and that will keep you dry in wet and inclement weather. We all know that it’s easier to take off a layer of clothing than not have enough on in cold weather. Wool works best in the cold while cotton is superior during the warm months. In other words, wear clothes that you can work in comfortably and that are designed for the kind of work you do and the weather in which you must do it.

Proper footwear is another important part of construction attire. Wear the right shoe or boot for the job. A good sturdy leather boot will last a long time and also provide your feet with good support throughout the shift. Since you are on your feet most of the time, make sure the shoe or boot fits correctly. Tennis shoes have no place on a construction site — one reason is that protruding nails and tennis shoe soles just don’t mix.

If you wear jewelry, watches or rings remember that they can be very dangerous around machinery and electricity. Take them off and put them in your pocket, or better yet, just leave them at home! Many a construction worker has lost a finger or two from wearing rings on the job. Use common sense and dress for the job you do — leave jewelry at home, wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear, and your workday will be a safer and more comfortable one.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS AND TREAT SAFETY AS ONE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES.

Safety Recommendations:___________________________________________

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Job Specific Topics:________________________________________________

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M.S.D.S Reviewed:_________________________________________________

Attended By:

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