Safe lifting ensures no one is harmed during the manual lifting of objects. It ensures we conduct our lifting in a manner devoid of unsafe practices. Lifting has become an integral part of our lives; some people lift every day because of their job though some rarely do. No matter the divide you are in, safe lifting is good for everyone.
Safe lifting: what can we do to ensure safe lifting today?
- Ensure you wear your personal protective equipment such as your safety boot, or hand glove. It’ll help to reduce any impact on the legs or the hand.
- Determine the route of your carry. Know the route that you are going to take the load and remove any obstructions.
- Assess the load and seek assistance from fellow workers or call for mechanical aid such as a hand truck or a forklift, if you can’t carry the load easily.
- Consider doing a trial lifting of the load yourself during your assessment.
During the lift.
- Position the load close to yourself. It will help reduce the horizontal position of the load, enabling you to lift properly.
- Gently squat, bend your knees and ensure your back is straight. Not having your back straight will increase the effect of pain in your back.
- Get a good grip on the load and ensure you keep the load close to your body. And lift the load with your leg muscle
- Avoid twisting your leg when moving.
- While you are walking, continue to take a small step, do not run to avoid falling with the load
Dropping the load.
- Gently repeat the steps when lifting the load.
- Lower your back, very slowly, and allow to drop the load with your knee muscle and do not bend your back.
- Place the load on your desired position or surface.
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