My job requires me to lift heavy objects, should I wear a Backbelt?
We (OH&S and Employee Health) do not recommend the use of Backbelts because the evidence of their effectiveness in preventing back injuries is inconclusive. You might want to read the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) publication entitled BACK BELTS Do They Prevent Injury? to understand more fully the issues related to wearing Backbelts to prevent back injuries. The link for that document is: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/backbelt.html With any occupational task that involves exposure to stressors that can injure employees, the preferred ways to control any hazards are, in order of preference: • Engineering (For example, use mechanical lifting aids or require the manufacturer to package items in smaller boxes.) • Work Practices (Put boxes on carts for transport. Decrease the height of lift by storing heavier items approximately waist level.) • Administrative Controls (Training of employees, rotating employees so that they perform multiple task, or requiring two o
