The Workers Guide To Safe Lifting
Workers are getting injured every day from improper lifting techniques. Often a little forethought will prevent any injury. Following these general safe practices will help all employees protect their back while lifting:
• Assess the hazards before a worker manually lifts, lowers, pushes, pulls, carries, handles or transports a load that could injure the worker.
• Wherever possible, pack shipments in manageable sized containers. Reduce oversized or awkward loads by splitting into smaller loads.
• Size up or test a load before attempting to lift to see if you can handle it. Never attempt to lift an oversized or awkward load alone.
• Use suitable mechanical equipment (dolly, crane, etc.) to reduce the load. • Make sure the route or path that you intend to take is clear. • Use extreme caution when carrying items across uneven terrain, or up or down stairs. • Where use of lifting equipment is impractical or not possible, two man lifts must be used.
Keep your back straight. Bend at your knees as far as you can and still be able to return to an upright position. Initiate the lift and come to an upright position with your leg and buttock muscles. Tighten your abdominal muscles to help brace your back as you lift. Keep the object close to your body. Keep your head higher than your shoulders. Grip with your whole hand – not just your fingers.
These tips, while simple, will go a long way to mitigate any back injuries while lifting on the job. Joel Joshi writes for Workforce Compliance Safety - a consulting company in Canada that helps employers stay compliant with safety standards.
• Assess the hazards before a worker manually lifts, lowers, pushes, pulls, carries, handles or transports a load that could injure the worker.
• Wherever possible, pack shipments in manageable sized containers. Reduce oversized or awkward loads by splitting into smaller loads.
• Size up or test a load before attempting to lift to see if you can handle it. Never attempt to lift an oversized or awkward load alone.
• Use suitable mechanical equipment (dolly, crane, etc.) to reduce the load. • Make sure the route or path that you intend to take is clear. • Use extreme caution when carrying items across uneven terrain, or up or down stairs. • Where use of lifting equipment is impractical or not possible, two man lifts must be used.
Keep your back straight. Bend at your knees as far as you can and still be able to return to an upright position. Initiate the lift and come to an upright position with your leg and buttock muscles. Tighten your abdominal muscles to help brace your back as you lift. Keep the object close to your body. Keep your head higher than your shoulders. Grip with your whole hand – not just your fingers.
These tips, while simple, will go a long way to mitigate any back injuries while lifting on the job. Joel Joshi writes for Workforce Compliance Safety - a consulting company in Canada that helps employers stay compliant with safety standards.
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