27 Jun Test Employees’ Knowledge of Back Safety

Originally posted by Chris Kilbourne on the Safety Daily Advisor website.

How much do your workers know about back injuries and how to prevent them? Here’s are 20 questions you can ask to find out how much they really know, and how much you have to teach them.

1.  Back strain is second only to the common cold for causing lost workdays.  T   F
2. Overweight people are more likely to have back problems.  T   F
3. Being out of shape contributes to the risk of back injury.  T   F
4. Improper lifting is a common cause of back injury.  T   F
5. The older you are the less likely you are to injure your back on the job.  T   F
6. Strengthening and stretching exercises are more likely to cause rather than prevent back injuries.  T   F
7. The safest way to lift is to bend at the waist.  T   F
8. All back pain will eventually go away if you ignore it.  T   F
9. Applying heat to a back injury helps reduce spasms and pain, and then applying cold helps reduce swelling.  T   F
10. If something is too heavy to lift alone, get help.  T   F
11. Using mechanical aids is not an effective way to prevent back injuries.  T   F
12. Holding a load away from the body while lifting helps prevent back strain and injury.  T   F
13. When sitting or standing for long periods, you should change position frequently.  T   F
14. Adjusting your workstation or work surface to avoid bending and reaching can help prevent back injury. T   F
15. Dividing a heavy load into smaller loads for lifting and carrying helps prevent back strain. T   F
16. Early treatment of back problems can shorten recovery time. T   F
17. Pain when attempting to rise from a seated position can be a sign of a back injury. T   F
18. To prevent injury when lifting, lift with you legs, not your back.  T   F
19. If you experience back pain on the job, you should report it to your supervisor and seek treatment.  T   F
20. Once you’ve injured your back, you are less likely to ever have another back injury.  T   F

Answers: (1) T (2) T (3) T (4) T (5) F (6) F (7) F (8) F (9) T (10) T (11) F (12) F (13) T (14) T (15) T (16) T (17) T (18) T (19) T (20) F