Back Injury Prevention (CCOHS)

Developed by: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)

Description:  This resource explains how lifting, carrying, and holding objects in your hands can potentially put your lower back at risk. It offers advice on how to reduce the risk of back injuries through prevention, decreasing the demands placed on worker’s backs, or changing how workers interact with objects at work. There is also some information about general lifting technique to spare the back when lifting, carrying, or lowering is an essential part of someone’s job.

This is one of a series of 20 guidelines for common workplace tasks created by this developer. You can access them by clicking on the “Back to Ergonomics” link at the top right of this resource.

Keywords: back, manual material handling, lift, lower, carry, hold, risk, elimination, hierarchy of controls