One million people have back injuries in the workplace every year, according to OSHA. And most of those injuries are from lifting below the knees or over the shoulders. Storage of materials above 1.5 ft and below 5 ft could reduce risk. A kaizen event with 5S sorting would be a good way to achieve this. / / Employers could order lighter supplies?in 50 lb bags instead of 100 lb bags, for example. Requiring heavier materials be moved with a hand truck or forklift can also help eliminate back injuries. / / PPE (personal protective equipment) can also increase back safety, as can simple stretching prior to lifting. / / Good workstation planning with effective ergonomics will also help guarantee worker safety.