March 23, 2007—Workers who lift for a living need more rest, recommends a new study funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Researchers at Ohio State University found that workers whose primary work duty is lifting should take more frequent or longer breaks than they now do in order to avoid back injury. Their research also suggested that taking breaks was more important for new workers than experienced workers, and that the risk of injury is higher at the end of a work shift.
The study looked at workers who lifted boxes onto conveyor belts for eight hours, while researchers measured the amount of oxygen that was reaching the muscles in their lower back. The oxygen level indicated how hard the muscles were working, and whether they were becoming fatigued.
Despite the fact that the workers were performing the same job at the same pace all day, their back muscles needed more oxygen as the day went on. Taking a half-hour lunch break helped their muscles recover, but once they started working again, their oxygen needs rose steeply and kept climbing throughout the afternoon.
For more information, see the NIOSH Web site.
