Back belts may not prevent injuries at work

 

What is a back belt?

A back belt is a device that some people believe supports the spine and reduces loads during lifting. Back belts are typically made of lightweight elastic, and fit around the waist and lower back. They are generally worn outside work clothes, and can be held in place with suspenders. Back belts are also known as weight lifting belts, abdominal belts, and back supports. There are many different types of industrial back belts commercially available.

Back belts are not personal protective equipment (PPE).

WorkSafeBC does not consider back belts to be personal protective equipment (PPE) as referred to in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. There has not yet been convincing evidence that back belts lessen the hazards of strenuous or repetitive lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting, or bending.

Studies do not support claims about back belts.

Studies have not shown that wearing back belts prevents back injuries — study results cannot be used to either support or refute the effectiveness of back belts in injury reduction.

Although back belts are being bought and sold under the premise that they reduce the risk of back injury, there is insufficient scientific evidence that they actually deliver what is promised.

Note: WorkSafeBC’s primary focus is on the prevention of injury. This commentary does not address the use of back belts as medical treatment during injury rehabilitation。

Back belts could increase the risk of injuries.

There is some evidence that workers believe they can lift more when wearing a back belt. This may give workers a false sense of security, and increase the risk of injury. Back belts may also strain the cardiovascular system. Long-term use of belts may cause stomach muscles to lose strength, which may increase the risk of injury when the belt isn’t being worn.

back injuries

A more effective way to prevent back injuries is to have a comprehensive occupational health and safety program in your workplace. An effective program will help:

• Identify where and why injuries are occurring

• Assess the exposure of workers to risks such as heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying

• Eliminate or minimize the risks by changing equipment, tools, workplace layout, or work organization

Back belts DO NOT:

• Reduce forces on the spine

Lifting and handling loads produce forces on the spine that can contribute to the risk of injury.

• Increase intra-abdominal pressure

Some believe that increasing pressure within the abdomen counterbalances or protects against forces on the spine. Studies are inconclusive about whether back belts increase intra-abdominal pressure, or whether this would even reduce the risk of back injury.

 

• Brace the spine and reduce bending

There is no conclusive evidence that back belts help brace the spine, or that a rigid spine reduces back injuries. Back belts generally do not reduce the forward bending that is common in most lifting situations.

• Remind workers to lift properly

There is little scientific evidence that back belts remind workers to avoid awkward postures and heavy loads that contribute to back injuries.

• Reduce injuries

While there are some reports of injury reduction in companies using back belts, these companies have usually also implemented training and ergonomics programs. There is no proof that back belts alone reduce back injuries.

（船舶管理部机务培训分析师 傅恒星编译）

译者注：“back belt”即“back support”，指护背或背部支撑装备，本文称“护腰带”

护腰带不能防止人员作业时受伤

什么是护腰带？

护腰带是部分人相信在托举物体时可以对人的脊椎起到支撑作用并减少脊椎负荷的一种保护装置。护腰带通常由轻质、有弹性的材料制作，穿在身上时贴合在腰部和后背部。人们通常在室外作业时作为工作衣穿戴，并且可以通过吊索固定在稳固的地方。护腰带为人熟知的功能包括吊物带，腹部护带及背部支撑。在市面上可以买到各种不同型号的工业护腰带。

护腰带不属于个人劳保用品

WorkSafeBC认为在职业健康安全规则（OHSR）中提及的护腰带并不属于个人劳保用品（PPE），至今没有令人信服的证据表明护腰带能减轻在用力时或反复托举、推、拉、扭转及弯曲带来的损害。

研究不支持关于护腰带方面的主张：

研究成果没有表明穿着护腰带能防止背部受伤，研究的结果无法为支持或驳倒护腰带在降低人员受伤的效果方面提供证据。

虽然不管是买方还是卖方，都认为护腰带能降低背部受伤风险，但缺少科学的证据来支持他们这些承诺（观点）。

注意：WorkSafe BC主要关注防止人员受伤方面内容。该评论没有解决使用护腰带作为受伤后康复物理处理方法。

护腰带会增加受伤的风险：

·有证据表明工人相信他们穿戴护腰带后就可以托举更多的重量。这将让工人在安全方面产生错觉，增加受伤的风险。护腰带同时会造成心血管系统损伤，长期使用会是腹部肌肉失去力量，当不穿戴该产品时增加受伤风险。

·背部受伤。

·防止受伤更有效途径是工作场所有综合的职业健康和安全程序。

·识别在什么地方，为什么会出现受伤。

·评估工人如搬运、提升、推、拉重物作业存在的风险。

·通过改变设备、工具、工作场所布置或工作组织架构等方式来消除或使风险最小化。

护腰带无法做到：

·减少脊椎压力。

·托举和操作重载荷所产生在脊椎上的力量会导致受伤的风险。

·增加腹内压力。

·有些人认为增加的压力会与腹内产生的力量抵消，或防止力量作用在脊椎上，研究结果无法确定护腰带是否能增加腹压或是否能减少背部受伤的风险。

·支撑脊椎并减少弯曲度。

·没有明显的证据表明护腰带能支撑脊椎，或使脊椎坚韧减少背部受伤。护腰带不会减少通常托举重物时脊柱前倾的弯曲度。

·提示工人托举适当重物。

·几乎没有科学证据表明护腰带能提醒工人避免出现尴尬的姿势和避免重载荷导致背部受伤。

·减少受伤。

当有些公司的报告中说因为使用护腰带减少了人员受伤，这些公司通常也实施安全培训和人体工程力学相关程序（作业时如何巧用力）训练。没有证据表明护腰带能独自发挥减少背部伤害的作用。