SPRAINS AND STRAINS

The days of macho behavior and contests to see who can do the most work or lift the heaviest load are hopefully gone! With this in mind, anyone who spends a good part of their work day moving materials should learn to work smarter, rather than harder!

Manual material handling is common to many industries, especially construction. When working from scaffolding, take time to plan your moves. How will you get the material in place? Will you have to move it around the scaffolding manually? Do you need mechanical help such as a forklift or a boom truck? Can you place material in several locations to minimize the need to lift and carry?

When loading or unloading materials or tools, avoid bending, twisting or carrying long distances. If it’s possible, avoid placing materials at heights below knee level or above shoulder level. Never twist with a load! This is one of the worst things that you can do to your back. If you combine bending and twisting, you are certain to injure yourself.

Always allow space for at least two steps between a truck being off loaded and the final stacking site, which helps avoid twisting. Place a couple of pallets under a pallet you are stacking, which avoids bending below knee height. Keep in mind that muscles and posture control the shape of your spine. The shape of your spine controls wear and tear on your spinal disks, muscles and ligaments.

Tasks that require repetitive hand or wrist motion should be examined closely. Wooden handles tend to transmit less vibration than steel and fiberglass hammer handles. Consider wearing a tennis elbow support, to limit the effect of vibration on tendons that attach to the elbow. When using vibrating tools, special gloves that dampen vibration can also be worn.

The first step to avoiding discomfort, pain or injury is to discuss awkward work tasks with your supervisor. Also, share your concerns and possible remedies with co-workers at safety meetings. Remember, the best way to earn a living is to stay healthy. Your employer-and most of all, your family-are depending on you!