人工搬运时到底需不需要腰背部的PPE？

NIOSH也出版了一本简刊《Back Belts－Do They Prevent Injury》来进行了说明，我附在邮件中，可以参考。

  BACK BELTS--Do They Prevent Injury NIOSH.pdf
 

A Lack of Scientific Support

After a review of the scientific literature, NIOSH has concluded that, because of limitations of the studies that have analyzed workplace use of back belts, the 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.

The Institute, therefore, does not recommend the use of back belts to prevent injuries among workers who have never been injured.* If you or  your workers are wearing back belts as protective equipment against back injury, you should be aware of the lack of scientific evidence supporting their use.

* Because the Institute's primary focus is on the prevention of injury, NIOSH did not address the use of back belts as medical treatment during rehabilitation from injury.

Could Wearing a Back Belt Increase the Potential for Injury?

At this point, there are no definitive studies on either the beneficial or harmful effects of wearing back belts. Just as there is speculation that back belts may help, there is also concern that they may harm workers. As a result of the NIOSH review, the Institute is concerned with the potentially harmful effects associated with a false sense of security that may accompany back belt use.

There is some research showing that workers believe they can lift more when wearing a back belt. If workers falsely believe they are protected, they may subject themselves to even greater risk by lifting more weight than they would have without a belt.