you are at risk - cpwr | a world leader in construction ... injuries are the most common injury in...

Back injuries are the most common injury in construction.* • Construction workers report back pain in higher numbers than all other industries combined. • Back injuries are the major cause of disability in middle-age construction workers. • Long recovery times and chronic back problems can mean you will no longer be able to work in construction. HAZARD ALERT Find out more about construction hazards. Get more of these Hazard Alert cards – and cards on other topics. Call 301-578-8500 ©2013,CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research, training, and service arm of the Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO, and works to reduce or eliminate safety and health hazards construction workers face on the job. Production of this card was supported by Grant OH009762 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the ofﬁcial views of NIOSH. www.cpwr.com Let tools do the work If materials weigh more than 50 pounds, do not lift them by yourself. Use carts, dollies, forklifts, and hoists to move materials – not your back. Get another worker to help lift heavy materials. To prevent back injuries … If you think you are in danger: Contact your supervisor. Contact your union. Call OSHA 1-800-321-OSHA BACK INJURIES YOU ARE AT RISK Think before you move Lifting while bending and twisting will cause injury. You can prevent a serious back injury if you step instead of twist. Turn your whole body rather than twisting. Lift and lower in a smooth, steady way. Try to handle materials between your knees and chest. 3 Change your work routine Re-position your body so that you are not contorted or repeating a motion. Raise your work to waist level. Have materials delivered near your work. Take rest breaks. When you are tired, you can get injured more easily. 2 Does your back hurt? *The Construction Chart Book, 2013. Workers use the two-mason lift technique to reduce stress of lifting and twisting. Back injuries have consequences Work with your employer and union rep to prevent back injuries. • Reduced income • Lost work time • Chronic pain Last Tip: Housekeeping! Make sure ﬂoors and walkways are clear and dry. Slips and trips are a big cause of back injuries. Back pain doesn’t stop when you leave work. You take it home! A bricklayer lifting an average of 200 blocks – each 38 lbs – per day lifts: Most back injuries are from: What do YOU lift in a day? • Medical bills • Reduced work life • Lifting • Carrying • Bending at the waist • Pushing and pulling

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Page 1: You are at risk - CPWR | A world leader in construction ... injuries are the most common injury in construction.* • Construction workers report back pain in higher numbers than all

Back injuries are the most common injury in construction.*

•Constructionworkersreportbackpaininhighernumbersthanallotherindustriescombined.

•Backinjuriesarethemajorcauseofdisabilityinmiddle-ageconstructionworkers.

•Longrecoverytimesandchronicbackproblemscanmeanyouwillnolongerbeabletoworkinconstruction.

HAZARD ALERT

Find out more about construction hazards.

Get more of these Hazard Alert cards – and cards on other topics.

Call 301-578-8500

©2013,CPWR–TheCenterforConstructionResearchandTraining.Allrightsreserved.CPWRistheresearch,training,andservicearmoftheBuildingandConstructionTradesDept.,AFL-CIO,andworkstoreduceoreliminatesafetyandhealthhazardsconstructionworkersfaceonthejob.ProductionofthiscardwassupportedbyGrantOH009762fromtheNationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealth(NIOSH).ThecontentsaresolelytheresponsibilityoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheofficialviewsofNIOSH.

www.cpwr.com

Let tools do the work Ifmaterialsweigh more than 50 pounds, do not lift them by yourself.Usecarts,dollies,forklifts,andhoiststomovematerials–notyourback.Getanotherworkertohelpliftheavymaterials.

To prevent back injuries …

If you think you are in danger:Contact your supervisor. Contact your union.

Call OSHA1-800-321-OSHA

BACK INJURIES

You are at risk

Think before you move Lifting while bending and twisting will cause injury. Youcanpreventaseriousbackinjuryifyoustep instead of twist.Turnyourwholebodyratherthantwisting.Liftandlowerinasmooth,steadyway.Trytohandlematerialsbetweenyourkneesandchest.

Change your work routine Re-positionyourbodysothatyouarenotcontortedorrepeatingamotion.Raise your work to waist level.Havematerialsdeliverednearyourwork.Takerestbreaks.Whenyouaretired,youcangetinjuredmoreeasily.

Does your back hurt?

*The Construction Chart Book, 2013.

Workers use the two-mason lift technique to reduce stress of lifting and twisting.

Back injuries have consequences

Work with your employer and union rep to prevent back injuries.

•Reducedincome•Lostworktime•Chronicpain

Last Tip: Housekeeping!Makesurefloorsandwalkwaysareclearanddry.Slipsandtripsareabigcauseofbackinjuries.

Back pain doesn’t stop when you leave work.

You take it home!

Abricklayerliftinganaverageof200blocks–each38lbs–perdaylifts:

Most back injuries are from:

What do YOU lift in