Protect Your Back You've Only Got One

WHOSE BACKS ARE AT RISK?

Auto, truck and bus assembly workers, parts plant workers, rail workers, aerospace workers, telecommunications workers, electronics assembly workers, foundry workers, fish plant workers, airline workers, office workers, retail store workers, miners, fishers, drivers and hotel and restaurant workers.

In short, all CAW members are at risk from back injuries.

HOW DOES YOUR BACK WORK?

Your back is made up of a series of bones called vertebrae as well as discs, ligaments, muscles, the spinal cord and nerves.

Your back keeps you upright, holds up your head, manages your body's signals through the spinal cord and nerves and lets you bend, lift, twist, and carry.

There are 24 vertebrae bones. Between each one of the vertebrae are shock absorbers called discs. Ligaments bind bone to bone. Muscles expand and contract to allow movement.

WHY DOES MY BACK HURT?

Damage to the vertebrae, discs, ligaments, muscles, and the spinal cord and nerves can and do cause back pain.

You can hurt these parts of your back in a number of ways.

You can hurt your back

• if you stand or sit at work for long periods
• if you sit all day on a bench with no back rest or on a poorly designed, unadjustable chair
• if you sit in a chair too high for you without a good support for your feet
• if you have to work in a cramped position hunched over a work station
• if you have to pull or push objects, particularly those which are heavy or awkward
• if you have to stretch and reach repeatedly
• if you are exposed to whole body vibration such as driving a vehicle

If your stomach muscles are weak of if you have a fat stomach, this puts stress on your lower back.

Report the Injury to First Aid
The first thing you should do is report your back pain to first aid. Even if your back only hurts you a bit today, you might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning.

File a WCB Claim
Go to your doctor and explain the problem. Remember to explain your work in detail. Your physician is probably unfamiliar with your job.

Tell you CAW benefit or WCB rep of plant chair that you have filed a WCB claim. If you need help filling in the WCB Form6, ask your union rep to assist you. Tell your employer you have filed a WCB claim.

Be reporting back injuries to first aid and the WCB, you will help yourself. If the back pain happens again, it will be easier to establish a WCB claim. As well, you will help your union show there is a problem with back injuries at work that need to be prevented.

HOW CAN I GET BETTER?

Bed rest, exercise, physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and pain killers may all help. Try whatever makes you feel better.

If your physician suggests surgery, never agree until you get a second opinion. Many people who have back surgery find that they are worse, not better.

Tell your CAW Health and Safety Rep
Be sure to tell your CAW Health and Safety Rep that you have a back problem. Describe the duties of your job. Your union health and safety reps need to know about the types of jobs that are causing back injuries in order to persuade your employer to take action to prevent them.

Find Out About Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the name for changing the workplace, work station, equipment, tools and work organization to reduce injuries and discomfort and improve workers' well-being.

For More Information
You can find out more about ergonomics by reading the short CAW ergonomics brochures.

You can find out a lot more about back injuries and ergonomics by reading the 44 page publication

CAW Ergonomics in the Work Environment, A Manual for Workers.

The brochures and the manual are available from your workplace CAW representatives or write, phone or fax:

CAW Health and Safety Department
205 Placer Court, North York, Willowdale
Ontario, M2H 3H9
tel: (416)1495-6558 or 1-800-268-5763
fax: (416)495-6554


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