Search

When Lifting Objects, Do It Right

Posted on 8/5/2014 by Joel Gregier

For many US employees, work involves tough manual labor, and one of the most common requirements is to lift heavy objects. Lifting objects is an everyday requirement of jobs in industries from manufacturing and construction to retail. Because heavy lifting is such an ordinary activity, workers may not take safety precautions seriously. Workers should be aware that lifting objects incorrectly can lead to serious injuries and problems and that they should have the information and equipment to protect themselves in the workplace.
 
Back Injury Frequencies
 
The US Department of Labor (DOL) collects information on workplace injuries and makes that data available to the public. According to its most recent statistics, back injuries, or “overexertion,” are the most common injuries. More than 20% of injuries that require days away from work or restricted or transferred duties (DART) are caused by overexertion in lifting or lowering.
 
Causes of Overexertion
 
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 50% of all DART injuries are soft-tissue damage (sprains, strains, tears, soreness, and bruises). Common causes of soft-tissue injuries include lifting objects that are too heavy, are too bulky, or have their weight unevenly distributed. During the lifting process, employees may bend, twist, or turn their bodies in ways that result in injury. It is critical to train employees on proper lifting techniques to prevent these types of injuries.
 
Preventing Back Injuries
 
Under its General Duty Clause, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to protect their employees from preventable injuries, whether or not the injury is addressed by a specific OSHA standard. While OSHA has not issued a formal standard for lifting technique, overexertion is a preventable condition and therefore subject to the General Duty Clause. 
 
With that said, there are common safety precautions that employees can take to prevent injuries while lifting. For instance, when moving materials manually, employees should:
 
  • Attach handles or holders to loads (if possible),
  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and
  • Use proper lifting techniques.
Proper Lifting Technique
 
hazmat shipping packages handlerOne of the easiest ways to prevent back injuries is to follow proper lifting techniques. Again, while this is not specifically outlined by OSHA, the following technique is a good rule of thumb to follow:
 
  • Step 1: Plan ahead before lifting.
  • Step 2: Set feet shoulder width apart.
  • Step 3: Bend your knees and keep your back straight.
  • Step 4: Grip the load firmly.
  • Step 5: Tighten your stomach muscles.
  • Step 6: Lift with your legs.
  • Step 7: Keep your back straight as you lift.
  • Step 8: Lift close to your body.
  • Step 9: If you’re straining, get help.
 
Protect Your Team With Expert Training 
 
While supervision and a strong safety program help keep workers safe, employees must be prepared to take steps to protect themselves and their co-workers from injury and illness in the workplace. Expert OSHA training at Lion.com is available to satisfy a number of OSHA training standards, as well as provide awareness training on a variety of workplace hazards. 
 

Tags: best, osha, practices, reporting and recordkeeping

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion is my preferred trainer for hazmat and DOT.

Jim Jani

Environmental Coordinator

The instructor kept the class engaged and made learning fun. There was a lot of information to cover but time flew by. I will definitely use Lion in the future!

Chelsea Minguela

Hazmat Shipping Professional

The training was impressive. I am not a fan of online training but this was put together very well. I would recommend Lion to others.

Donnie James

Quality Manager

The instructor was probably the best I ever had! He made the class enjoyable, was humorous at times, and very knowledgeable.

Mary Sue Michon

Environmental Administrator

I like Lion's workshops the best because they really dig into the information you need to have when you leave the workshop.

Tom Bush, Jr.

EHS Manager

Lion's course was superior to others I have taken in the past. Very clear in the presentation and the examples helped to explain the content presented.

George Bersik

Hazardous Waste Professional

No comparison. Lion has the best RCRA training ever!!

Matt Sabine

Environmental Specialist

I tried other environmental training providers, but they were all sub-standard compared to Lion. I will not stray from Lion again!

Sara Sills

Environmental Specialist

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

You blew the doors off the competition!

Stephen Bieschke

Facilities Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Explore ten hazardous waste management errors that caused generators in California the most trouble last year.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.