Low back injuries are a common and costly concern for several companies, particularly manufacturing firms. These injuries have several causes taking into account wrenches and tensions from over-exertion, tumbles, material handling, and auto accidents. This analysis considers the most common injuries experienced in the manufacturing company, which is associated with material handling tasks. My response to the COO as to whether the manufacturing company should establish a policy that would require workers to wear back belts when performing lifting or other material handling tasks when at work would be a 'no'. This is largely because the efficacy of utilizing back belts to decrease the risk of back injury amongst uninjured workers continues to be unproven. Back belts do not alleviate the risks to workers posed by incessant lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting, or bending. Therefore, my response is to not recommend the utilization of back belts to preclude injuries amongst uninjured personnel, and not to consider back belts to be personal protective equipment for personnel (CDC Wonder, 1994). In addition, when workers wear back-belts, they may end up trying to lift more weight than they would when they are operating without such support. Therefore, this gives rise to a false sense of security that may subject personnel to greater risk of injury (Everest Group, 2010).
Taking into consideration that the most frequent injury trend was associated with back injuries associated with material handling tasks, a general strategy for curtailing back injuries in the organization is recommended. The main recommendation is for the manufacturing company to eradicate or decrease back injuries is through ergonomic assessment and implementation of engineering controls. The most appropriate prospect to attain this is through educating management, design engineers, as well as personnel on ergonomics (Scott et al., 1998). This approach encompasses a number of phases.
The first phase is hazard identification where every lifting and carrying task is ascertained and evaluated. The main objective is to pinpoint fundamental risk factors and come up with scientific injury prevention solutions. The first important step is to place in order lifting and carrying tasks that provide the ultimate potential for injury. Ascertaining high-risk tasks can be equally easy. Consider preceding claims, accident inquiry reports or other accident proceedings to detect these tasks. Get hold of worker feedback as to those lifting and carrying tasks that they observe as being demanding (Everest Group, 2010).
Subsequent to ascertaining material handling tasks, the following step is to assess the risk factors of force, posture, and recurrence that are existent for every task. The aim is to ascertain those risk factors that bring about the utmost potential for injury. After being determined, detailed efficacious measures can be established to diminish these risk factors. This phase is best undertaken via a team approach comprising personnel and management (Everest Group, 2010).
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