NC Employees Workplace Program Requirements for Safety and Health. Back Protection

Transcription

1 NC Emplyees Wrkplace Prgram Requirements fr Safety and Health Scpe Back Prtectin This sectin applies t emplyees in peratins that invlve lifting, manual material handling, manual lad lifting and basic jb tasks requiring the mving r lifting f items frm the same r different levels, regardless f size r shape. As an emplyer, the state has human and financial cst assciated with back injuries. Cnsistent with a desire t prevent back related injuries thrugh the identificatin f risks and behavirs that can cntribute t back injuries this sectin applies t all State Agencies and State Universities Safety and Health prgrams. (Hereinafter the term agency is inclusive f bth agency and university.) This safety requirement emphasizes the prgram management aspects f the State s Back Prtectin Prgram. Backgrund Back injuries represent the mst cmmn type f wrkers cmpensatin claim in the State. Jbs with the highest rate f back injuries tend t be thse requiring a great amunt f manual lad handling. Eliminating and/r minimizing back injuries can result in lwer wrkers cmpensatin csts and prmte the well-being f emplyees. The state is cmmitted t prviding a place f emplyment that is free frm recgnized hazards t its emplyees and the general public by utilizing a practive apprach t safety. Therefre, the State will administer a back prtectin prgram and at-risk emplyees will receive the required training. Requirements The State s Back at Wrk Prgram recgnizes general industry safe wrk practices that have effectively minimized back injuries, and emphasizes prper lifting techniques. When lifting hazards exist that cannt be eliminated then engineering practices, administrative practices, safe wrk practices, Persnal Prtective Equipment (PPE), and additinal training regarding Back Prtectin shall be implemented. Effective implementatin f this safety requirement includes fllwing: Training. State emplyees wh perfrm manual lifting shall attend Back at Wrk training n prper lifting techniques. Back at Wrk training shall be prvided upn initial emplyment and/r new jb assignment. Peridic refresher training shall be cnducted at the discretin f the supervisr. Training will include, but is nt limited t, prper lifting techniques, injury preventin, and behavir mdificatin. Risk Factrs. There are majr differences in the ability f individuals t withstand lifting and ther demanding physical labr. An individual s expsure and persnal characteristics affect his r her chances f experiencing lifting related back injuries because back pain results frm different circumstances. Wrk related risk factrs, are identified frm varius studies and include heavy lifting and heavy wrk, frequent lifting, lifting lads near ne s strength capacity, ccasinal stressful lad handling, sudden unfreseen events (accidents), and prlnged standing r sitting. Other suspected risk factrs, include whle bdy vibratin, pushing, pulling, carrying, twisting, and bending (See Back Prtectin Flw Chart and Risk Factr Assessment).

2 Identifying jbs with Risk Factrs. Fcusing n mre significant prblem areas f back injury ptential is the mst cst-effective apprach in examining the jbs and tasks in an peratin. When examining manual lifting peratins, a tw-staged priritizing scheme is recmmended. First, identify thse jbs that invlve many f the risk factrs. Jbs and tasks that have several f the afrementined risk factrs shuld receive a higher pririty in assessing an peratin s back injury risks. Secnd, specific lifting tasks shuld be singled ut fr further analysis (See Lifting Task Analysis). Shuldn t a lifting task analysis be dcumented n a Jb Safety Analysis (JSA)? Minimizing Lifting Related Back Injuries. Once specific tasks are identified and assessed, if required, examine ptins t eliminate r minimize thse lifting related back injuries. Cnsider eliminatin f the lifting r substitutin f the nature f the task, if eliminatin is nt pssible, and cntrl the stress level impsed n the back when lifting (See Lifting Task Redesign Checklist). A JSA wuld identify the jb tasks and the specific safety related cncern and create an ability t implement any engineering, administrative and/r PPE requirements necessary. Definitins Behavir Mdificatin: Changing an emplyee s actin r mtins frm a negative, accident/injury prne behavir t a psitive, safe actin r mtin. Mechanical Equipment: Any device designed t aid in mving material including cranes, hand trucks, pallet jacks, frklifts, etc. Lifting Belt: A supprt designed fr the lumbar area f the lwer back t prvide additinal supprt when lifting. (This is nt recmmended by The Office f State Persnnel Wrkplace Requirements Prgram). Risk Factrs: Expsures and persnal characteristics that affect an individual s chances f experiencing pain assciated with lifting related injuries t the back. Specific Respnsibilities This safety requirement emphasizes the prgram management aspects f the State s Back Prtectin Prgram subsequent t Back Prtectin. Manager T ensure that adequate funds are available and budgeted fr the purchase f equipment and supplies t aid in minimizing lifting related back injuries. T btain and crdinate the required training fr the affected emplyees. T ensure cmpliance thrugh the agency s auditing prcess. 2

3 T cmmunicate the apprpriate needs t managers and/r supervisrs. Supervisrs T ensure that emplyees are prperly trained. T ensure that n emplyee is required t lift beynd his/her capabilities. T ensure that an emplyee receives assistance in lifting upn request. T reprt any unsafe act assciated with this requirement t their supervisrs. Emplyee T reprt any injury t their immediate supervisr. T attend the agency s Back at Wrk Prgram prir t engaging in manual lifting tasks. T prvide prmpt assistance t managers, supervisrs, safety staff, and r thers as resurces and staffing allw n any matter cncerning this safety requirement r prcedure. Safety and Health Directr T assist in lcating the required training Back at Wrk training at the request f the managers. T wrk with Purchasing t ensure that newly purchased lifting related equipment and supplies cmply with current safety regulatins. T prvide cnsultative and audit assistance t ensure effective implementatin f this safety requirement and prcedure. 3

4 4

5 Lifting Task Redesign Checklist Lifting Task: Lcatin: Yes N Eliminatin Questins Is there really a need fr the lifting task? Can the need fr lifting the lad be eliminated? Substitutin Questins Culd lifting equipment be used instead f the wrker s arm and back muscles? Culd the weight f the lad be reduced? Cntrl Questins Culd the lad be packaged differently s that the natural way t grasp it wuld place it clser t the bdy? Culd the lad be stred differently t reduce the hrizntal distance frm the bdy at bth pickup and set dwn pints? Culd the lad be packaged differently s that the vertical distance abve the flr during bth pickup and set dwn is abve knee height and belw shulder height? Culd the lad be stred differently s that the vertical distance abve the flr during bth pickup and set dwn is abve knee height and belw shulder height? Culd the vertical distance between the pickup pint and set dwn pint be reduced? Culd the frequency rate f lifting be reduced? Culd the duratin f a lifting sessin be shrtened? Culd handles r anther type f grasping pint be made available t imprve cmfrt and cntrl during the lift? Culd the need t rtate frm left t right, r right t left, be reduced? Resurces NC OSHA A Guide t Manual Materials Handling and Back Safety Cal OSHA Back Injury Preventin Guide in the Health Care Industry fr Health Care Prviders Manual fr the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equatin 5