The operating room staff spend a good deal of their time on their feet. Standing work, including bending, lifting, carrying and reaching can be tough on the back – especially if proper body mechanics are not being used.
Use the following guidelines to minimize the risk of injury to your back when doing standing work:
Avoid standing in one position for prolonged periods of time. Change your position as often as you can. This will not only help relieve stress on your spine, it also helps increase circulation and decrease muscle fatigue.
When you can, stretch. Gentle stretching exercises during a break can help ease muscle tightness.
Be aware of your posture. Are you standing correctly? Check and double check throughout your day.
Make sure the surface you are standing on is firm and level.
If possible, lean on a solid support. This can help reduce fatigue during long periods of standing.
Other important tips to remember:
When lifting an object, avoid bending and twisting at the same time. Instead, face the object and bend at the knees (not the back).
Before lifting, move close to and directly in front of the object. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor and shoulders are apart. Bend the knees and lift smoothly. Use the same movement when putting the object down again.
Avoid overreaching. If you have to reach up to a high level, make sure you are standing on a firm level surface.
Avoid standing on tiptoes. Not only is this an unstable position to stand in, for prolonged periods of time it can place unnecessary strain on the back and neck.
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