Positioning the Body to Reduce MSD Injury Risk: Focus on the Low Back
The low back is the most commonly injured body part due to workplace hazards in Canada.
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- Rounding, twisting, side bending and reaching increases risk of injury.
- Keep good spine posture and limit spine movement to reduce injury when lifting or handling loads.
Examples of Tasks
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Did you know?
- To reduce risk of injury:
- A) Avoid repetitive rounding, bending, and twisting of the low back
- Keep the load close to the body
- Low back injury consequences include:
- Missed time from work
- Decreased job satisfaction and quality of life
- Decreased confidence in work-related tasks
- Delayed return to work tasks
Keep in mind
- When handling heavy loads:
- B) Limit rounding, bending and twisting of the low back
- Maintain a firm grip on the load
- Prepare the body (or low back) by shifting or tilting the load before handling
- C) Keep the load close to the body by moving the feet to improve leverage
- Position the feet to improve balance and optimize applying force
- Try to modify activities to minimize load handling frequency and time
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