Stress Safe Lifting on the Job
Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not have specific requirements regarding safe lifting and carrying techniques, wise companies train their employees to lift and carry safely. The need for training in safe lifting techniques is implied by the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which requires employers to provide a workplace that is “free of recognized hazards” that may cause serious harm.
Safe Lifting Prevents Major Injuries
Thousands of back injuries occur in the workplace each year, many leading to permanent pain and disability. These injuries are often caused by unsafe lifting and carrying of heavy or awkward objects, and are easily prevented. The most common types of job-related back injuries are:
- Strain—overused or overstretched muscles
- Sprain—torn ligaments from sudden movement
- Herniated disk—loss of cushioning ability from strain or age
Safe Lifting and Carrying Techniques
Safe lifting and carrying techniques are the key to dramatically reducing debilitating back injuries on the job. Employees should…
- Plan before they lift. Before lifting and carrying an object, it’s important to examine the object and make sure the weight is stable and will not shift and there are enough people to help handle the load. Further, employees should make sure the object has no points or sharp edges that could cause injury while lifting.
- Use a safe lifting position. During a lift, the vertebrae support the body and the load—so it’s important to protect the spine with a safe lifting position. To achieve a safe lifting position, employees must squat by bending at hips and knees. The head, shoulders, and hips should form a straight line and the feet should be shoulder-width apart and turned out. Employees should maintain the back’s natural curve, as opposed to bending at an unnatural angle, and let their legs, not their backs, do the actual work of lifting.
- Carry carefully. An important part of safe lifting and carrying is making sure one can see while carrying the load. Employees should always check out the area where they will be lifting and carrying to make certain they have a clear view and a clear path. If there are objects in the way, these should be moved before an object or load is lifted or carried. Workers should stop and rest if necessary while moving a load, and make sure they can unload easily and safely.
Although improper lifting, carrying, and moving techniques are the primary cause of work-related back injuries, injuries are much more likely to occur when employees are in poor physical condition—overweight and/or with weak back and stomach muscles. So as part of training in safe lifting, employees should be encouraged to maintain a healthful weight and good muscle tone.