Back Injury Prevention

One of the most common types of on-the-job injuries are those affecting the back due to poor lifting practices or the lack of a sound program/policy for using devices to assist in daily duties.

It is important to understand the anatomy of the back in order to properly protect it from injury.

The back, formed by a column of individual bones (vertebrae) separated by discs (or cushions), is held together by ligaments, tendons, and muscles that work together to perform movements.

The support system provides support for your trunk, protects the spinal cord, and again, allows movement to occur. There are 3 basic curves in the back: cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back) and lumbar (lower back).

When you maintain these curves in their natural position, your weight is evenly distributed throughout the vertebrae and discs, which in turn reduces the risk for damage and prevents injury.

Using specialized patient handling equipment (such as transfer gait belts) while using safe lifting practices can:

Reduce the risk of injury
Reduce unnecessary fatigue
Promote ongoing safety for patient and caregiver

ErgoSafe can help both your patients and your employees by helping you implement safer practices within your working environment while using proper patient handling devices.

Return to Resources

This site requires:

"The "Get a Lift!"® Program has reduced lift/transfer related employee injuries by 90% in approximately 400 long-term care facilities in the past 9 years by integrating the use of mechanical lifts. After virtually eliminating this exposure to injury, the injuries related to pulling patients up from the end of the bed and turning patients became an obvious costly injury for the caregivers and their employers. Prevent, Inc. began incorporating the ErgoSlide® into the "Get a Lift!"® Program in 2004." — Betty Bogue, President, Prevent, Inc.