Back Injuries are Preventable

The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that back injuries are the most common workplace injury, accounting for approximately one-quarter of all lost or unproductive work and second only to the common cold as the most frequent reason for missing work. Although there is no cure for the common cold, there are ways to prevent back injuries.

Heavy trucks and tractor-trailers are hard on drivers’ backs. Constant compression and vibration from vehicles and prolonged sitting puts pressure on the spine that can result in disc degeneration. Extended periods of time on the road often lead professional truck drivers to maintain poor diets and exercise routines that result in excessive weight gain, contributing to back problems.

Proper techniques for lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling freight, and getting in and out of tractors, trailers and docks are essential to preventing back injuries. Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., the NSC, and other safety and medical organizations recommend the following tips:

• Lead a healthy lifestyle.
• Eat a nutritious, healthy diet to keep weight under control. Excess weight can exaggerate the curve of the spine and strain the back.
• Exercise regularly to strengthen back, abdominal and leg muscles. Weak, under-exercised muscles increase the chance of injury. The stronger the abdominal and leg muscles, the less the back has to work.
• Maintain proper posture at all times.
• When sitting, keep feet flat on the floor and make sure the lower back has support. When standing, try to keep ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line. When lying down, lie on one side, on a firm mattress, with bent knees.
• Keep bulky items, such as wallets, out of back pockets while sitting to prevent hips and spine from misaligning.
• Wear comfortable, well-supported, low-heeled work shoes. High heels deepen the curve of the lower back and force the pelvis to make up for this by tilting backwards.
• Practice back injury prevention.
• Alternate tasks that use different muscle groups.
• Avoid repeated minor strains, which can develop into an injury.
• Take periodic stretch breaks.
• Push, do not pull, loads on carts or wheels. Maximizing body weight helps start an object moving and keep it going with less strain.
• One foot should be behind the other with weight balanced between them.
• Keep the spine straight and use leg muscles to move the load.
• Always use the three-point system of contact when entering or exiting a tractor or trailer to prevent slips and falls.
  

Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. encourages our insureds to establish an ongoing back injury prevention program to educate and train employees on back injury prevention and safe lifting techniques. Ask your company physician or health care provider to recommend body stretching and conditioning exercises that drivers and other employees can practice regularly. Free copies of our Safe Lifting Techniques handout card and Prevent These Hazards sticker are available to distribute to your drivers. You may also contact our Loss Prevention Resource Library at (317) 636-9800 or by email at thequill@baldwinandlyons.com to have copies of the card or sticker mailed to you. 

Our Resource Library also contains several video programs on back injury prevention. These resources are available for loan to Baldwin & Lyons insureds. Click here to view our catalog or contact the Resource Library in our Loss Prevention Department to borrow any of the videos.

If you have questions regarding how to implement a back injury prevention program for your workplace, contact your assigned Loss Prevention Specialist or Dennis Shinault, CDS, Director of Loss Prevention, at (317) 429-2692 or by email at dshinault@baldwinandlyons.com.

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