Back Belts – Do They Protect Workers?
Back injuries account for a large number of injuries and illnesses in the workplace
and cost the economy thousands of dollars. In response to the increasing human
and economic costs of back injuries, companies have tried using many devices
to lessen the chance of back injury, either in conjunction with or in place of
sound ergonomic programs. One such device is the “back belt.”
Back belts, also called back supports or abdominal belts, resemble corsets
and have been used by some companies in the belief that they prevent worker
injury during lifting activities. However, those who rely on back belts to
prevent injury should be aware of the lack of scientific evidence supporting
their use.
The decision to wear a back belt is a choice and the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) believes that workers and employers
should have the best available information to make that choice. So NIOSH conducted
an extensive study and concluded that there was “insufficient scientific
evidence” that wearing back belts protects workers from the risk of job-related
back injury.
In their study, NIOSH found that the back injury rate among workers who wore
back belts every day was “statistically insignificant” from those
who didn’t use them regularly. Even employees in the most strenuous types
of jobs showed no real difference in either back pain complaints or injury
claims when using back belts. A history of back injury was the strongest risk
factor for predicting either a back injury claim or reported back pain among
employees, regardless of back belt use.
NIOSH does not consider back belts to be personal protective equipment and
does not recommend the use of back belts to prevent worker injury. They conclude
that back belts do not lessen the hazards to workers who lift, push, pull,
twist or bend repeatedly. The most effective way to minimize the likelihood
of back injury is to develop and implement a comprehensive ergonomics program.
The program should include:
ergonomic assessment of jobs and workstations to make sure that work activity
can be done without exceeding the physical capability and capacity of the worker,
on-going, comprehensive training for all workers on lifting mechanics and techniques,
a surveillance program to identify potential work-related musculoskeletal problems
and, a medical management program.
On the basis of available evidence, how effective back belts are in reducing
back injuries remains unproven. Although, some companies have reported workplace
injury reduction from using back belts many of those companies also implemented
training and ergonomic awareness programs. So, in fact, the reported injury
reduction may be related to these or other factors.
There is also little scientific evidence that back belts remind workers to
avoid awkward postures and heavy loads. For just as there is speculation that
back belts may help, there is also concern that they may have potentially harmful
effects associated with a false sense of security. Some research shows that
workers believe they can lift more when wearing a back belt. If workers falsely
believe they are protected by the belt, they may risk greater injury by lifting
more weight that they would have without a belt.
Companies should not rely on back belts as a “cure all” for back
injury, but should take preventative measures that reduce the risks of lifting
tasks. The decision to use back belts should be a voluntary decision and not
be a mandatory job requirement. NIOSH believes that the most effective way
to prevent back injury is to implement an ergonomics program that focuses on
redesigning the work environment and work tasks to reduce the hazards of lifting.
"Information or recommendations contained in these articles were obtained
from sources believed to be reliable at the date of publication. Information
is only advisory and does not presume to be exhaustive or inclusive of all
workplace hazards or situations."
The above evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be relied
upon for legal compliance purposes. They are based solely on the information provided to us and relate
only to those conditions specifically discussed. We do not make any warranty, expressed or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or standards.
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