by Brianna Crandall — August 5, 2015—Of interest to safety and facilities professionals responsible for optimizing workplace ergonomics, Ten Risk Factors for Low-Back Pain is the title of a new, complimentary e-book released by Humantech, experts in workplace improvement.
Low-back pain is the most common, non-fatal, chronic health and safety illness/injury associated with the workplace, with over eight million new occurrences in the United States annually, according to Humantech. About 80 percent (or approximately 34 million) of adults will experience low-back pain at some point in their lives.
Low-back pain is caused by an irritation or problem associated with the muscles, tendons, nerves, joints, or discs in the lower-back region. It can be categorized as one of three conditions:
- Muscle sprain or strain
- Intervertebral disc degeneration
- Herniated or ruptured disc
These conditions make normal movements difficult to perform, notes Humantech. The pain is described as a severe, stabbing/shooting pain or a dull, aching sensation. The report helps safety professionals understand and address the risk factors that show a strong association with low-back pain.
Leading cause: overexertion from lifting
To mitigate the risks of low-back pain, the cause must first be identified. According to the Liberty Mutual 2014 Workplace Safety Index, the leading cause of serious, non-fatal workplace injuries is overexertion (tasks that involve lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, or throwing). Manual material handling has the strongest association with low-pack pain and is the first key risk factor.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), lifting is the most frequent cause of low-back pain, and rates of low-back pain are eight times greater during heavy lifting jobs compared to sedentary occupations.
To learn how to quantify the level of risk associated with manual material handling tasks, and to learn the nine other key risk factors for low-back pain, download the e-book from Humantech.
The Humantech System adds six languages and video/photo features
Humantech also recently announced the addition of six new features to its flagship product, The Humantech System, which the company says is used at nearly 9,000 sites in over 25 different countries. The Humantech System is an all-in-one solution for managing ergonomics in production and assembly environments.
The software as a service (SaaS) is now available in six languages, allowing users to manage their ergonomics improvement process wherever they operate in the world, with seamless video upload, enhanced photo editing capabilities, and an expanded resources section.
