It was on a Monday in March and Winston and his coworkers arrived at a jobsite after a well-deserved weekend off work. During the previous week, they had finished one section of the roof of a newly constructed office building. On that particular day, they were beginning a new section of the roof.
Not unlike any other Monday, after getting onto the roof, all the men seemed to be grumbling a little that Monday morning comes too soon. But on a positive note, even though it was March, the weather was unseasonably warm for them to get back into the swing of work.
Winston was asked to move a section of hose from the portion of the roof they finished the previous week to the section of the roof they were just starting. But as soon as he began pulling on the hose, Winston felt a sharp pain in his lower back. This was not some simple twinge of discomfort. He was in real pain. Winston dropped the hose, put his hands on his lower back, and bent backward in pain. His coworkers helped him off of the roof and his supervisor drove him to the medical clinic, where Winston was diagnosed with a strained back. He was permitted to come back to work but was not allowed to lift, carry, push, or pull anything over 25 lbs. for the next 10 days.
Thinking about what happened, Winston thought back to the back injury prevention training that he sat through many times in the past, and that’s when he realized that his injury happened while he was twisting and pulling at the same time.
DISCUSS WITH YOUR CREW
Twisting at the waist at the same time you are lifting or pulling something is one of the most common mistakes that people make, and it leads to more back injuries than most people realize. With that in mind, think when you are lifting, carrying, or pulling an object, and be intentional about not twisting at that waist. Instead, pivot your feet.
What else can you do to prevent back injuries?
- Keep legs shoulder-width apart.
- Lift the item close to your body.
- Bend your knees and keep your back straight.
- Tighten your stomach muscles.
- Lift with your legs.
- If the item is heavy, get help.
- If you need to carry an object, plan your path in advance.
Working in the roofing and sheet metal trades is hard work. Some call it back-breaking work. But that doesn’t mean that back injuries are inevitable.