Preventing back injuries is a major workplace safety challenge. Further, one-fourth of all compensation indemnity claims involve back injuries, costing industry billions of dollars on top of the pain and suffering borne by employees. No approach has been found for totally eliminating back injuries caused by lifting, though it is felt that a substantial portion can be prevented by an effective control program and ergonomic design of work tasks.
Engineering controls attempt to redesign a job so lifting becomes less hazardous.
Applicable Regulations Regulations specific to ergonomics do not currently exist. In the interim, ergonomic issues fall under the OSHA General Duty Clause. Physical conditioning or stretching programs to reduce the risk of muscle strain. Adjusting the height of a pallet or shelf. Lifting which occurs below knee height or above shoulder height is more strenuous than lifting between these lines.