Body Mechanics for the Pest Control Technician

And anyone else, for that matter

Why Do We Work?

To earn a living Money to enjoy life outside of work Hobbies, family, vacations, homes, cars, boats, etc.

If we become injured at work, we have defeated our purpose

Mechanics

Better Decisions Our Agenda

How our body works/anatomy Technique Keeping neutral postures and avoiding injury Work examples Stretches Self care Training plan and tools for you

Mechanics to apply to the various tasks they encounter

Techniques for preventing sprains and strains

Knowledge to make better decisions on how to lift or move anything

The spine Jelly donut

Mechanics

The spine Jelly donut

Mechanics

Lazy “S” Cervical Thoracic Lumbar

1. Cervical

(C-1 to C-7) - Seven vertebrae in the neck support and move the head.

2. Thoracic

(T-1 to T-12) - Twelve vertebrae in the chest/upper back area support the shoulders and upper body.

3. Lumbar

(L-1 to L-5) - Five vertebrae in the low back support most of the body weight so they are the largest and strongest of all vertebrae.

4. Sacrum

- Triangular structure of the five attached vertebrae. They form the base of the vertebral column.

5. Coccyx

(tailbone) - Four attached vertebrae.

The spine Jelly donut

Mechanics

Lazy “S” Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Wide “C” Force/load Twist/turn

Neutral Postures

That position in which a body part works the most efficiently, is the strongest, and is the least likely to be injured.

 Wrist  Spine  Shoulder  Knee

B A C K

Our Acronym for Technique

Bring it close Always pivot Check your load/plan your move Keep chin up and chest out

Bring it Close

Bring the load as close to your center of gravity as possible Move IT toward you or you toward IT before handling the weight Use your

“GREEN ZONE”

Green Zone

Legend • 23” or greater • 16-23” • Up to 16”

Always Pivot

Move your feet Avoid loading the spine and twisting Avoid reaching out of neutral posture and twisting Think basketball, golf, and skating

Check your load

Bump it Weight Stability Plan your route Visualize the move Plan the placement

Keep Chin Up and Chest Out

•Keep your chin up and chest out when: •Lifting •Pushing/Pulling •Standing/Sitting •Neutral spine – Lazy “S” •Keep the Curves •Strongest •Most efficient

Handling Techniques

break down tasks Crouch lift with knee assist Roll the item into the “GREEN ZONE” Assisted one-hand lift Golf lift

Handling Techniques

Basic lift from floor or ground level to higher level

Handling Techniques

Store or keep items at “GREEN ZONE” height whenever possible Organize your truck or supply room so the heaviest items are most easily accessed at waist level or near the side of the truck bed

Talk About Work Examples

Attic access Crawl space access Truck access Driving Lift/Push/Pull

Reverse postures 30/30 Ergo Stretch For every 30 minutes of a sustained posture or repetitive motion, reverse that action for 30 seconds.

Foot up Wall crouch Hamstring Upper extremity

Check condition Warm muscles Post drive/pre work review

Before You Begin

Hamstrings Upper extremity Reverse bend low back

Self-Care

A =

Anti-inflammatory

I = M=

Ice Movement

Field Observations

Technician Body Mechanics Observation Checklist YES Observant of surroundings

slip/trip/fall hazards stairs/ladders/attics/crawl spaces

Uses proper material handling techniques when lifting/pushing/pulling/reaching B

rings the load close or gets close to the load

A

lways pivots or moves feet/ no twisting of loaded spine

C

hecks the load and the move or lift prior to initiating

K

eeps the chin up and chest out for a neutral spine/"S" curve

Technician name: Observer Name: Comments or Coaching specific to observation: NO Date of Observation:

Training plan

Make it your own Train your classroom trainer Train your field observers Incorporate into new hire training plan Train existing employees Reinforce at regular intervals CD Presentation Speakers notes Extras on stretching Extras on lifting Posters

Other Tools

PestSure University Back Safety Back Injury Prevention 9 minute Safety Source Video Slips and Falls 5 minute Safety Source Video Safe Lifting Techniques 12 minute Safety Source Video Preventing Slips, Trips, & Falls 10 minute Safety Source Video PestSure University Slips, Trips and Falls

RULES TO STRETCH BY

•Warm up first: warm muscles, tendons, and ligaments are more flexible and stretch more easily; stretching cold muscles can cause tears. •Stretches should always be gradual and gentle. •Hold each stretch in a static position for 10 to 20 seconds, allowing the muscle to lengthen slowly. •Do not bounce; bouncing actually causes muscle fibers to shorten, not lengthen. Stretch only to the point of resistance; if the stretch hurts, you ´re pushing too hard. •Don´t rush through the stretching routine; use it to prepare yourself mentally and physically for activity.

Upper Extremity Stretch

Hamstring Stretch

1.Place heel of leg being stretched on box or bench that is approximately knee height (can also be performed with the heel on the floor).

2.Make sure hips are kept square (ie facing forwards not twisted to the side) 3.Keep stretched leg as straight as possible and lean forwards from the hip with buttocks out and back straight 4.Do not hunch your back or slouch forward 5.Get to the point of a mild stretch and hold 6.Repeat for each leg

Back Stretch

•Stand up and place your hands on your hips toward the small of your back •Slowly lean back as far as you can, tilting your head to gently stretch your neck •Be sure to support your back with your hands and arms! •Return to normal position

Lifting Safely

The best path to a healthy back is to control your weight, exercise, and reduce back stress caused by lifting or poor posture. Excessive upper body weight—for example, potbellies—contributes to poor back posture and back pain because of the added stress placed on the components of the back. A regular exercise program that includes flexibility and strengthening exercises can help prevent injury or re-injury to your back. Consult your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program. Improper lifting is the most common way to injure your back. However, back injuries usually are not caused by one incorrect lift. They are caused by years of lifting incorrectly. Two of the most common lifting mistakes are bending at the waist instead of the knees and holding the load too far out in front of you. Before making any lift, test the load by pushing the object lightly with your hands or feet to determine the approximate weight of the object. Use your leg muscles instead of your back muscles. Do not twist during the lift. The proper technique for lifting is to: •place your feet apart with one foot slightly forward for stability •bend at the knees—not waist—while keeping your back as straight as possible •stand as close to the load as possible and grip it firmly •tighten your abdominal muscles as soon as you lift to support your spine. When you reach for an object, be sure to maintain good posture. If an object is beyond arm's length or is overhead, do not strain to grasp it. Rather, stand on a solid platform, such as a step stool or ladder, with your feet flat and slightly apart so the load is even with your shoulders. To limit strain and reduce your chances of pulling a muscle, slide the object close to your body.

Props for Training

Gallon jugs of water Boxes and bags of items they use Positive reinforcement rewards (candy) Photo’s of your work situations Handouts Stretches and proper technique Field Observation Form