A PROUD SUPPORTER OF SAFETY,

WHO PROVED 20 Million Man-Man-hours

without a LTI is not a dream

28th FEBRUARY 2008

No. BBS 118

HOW TO LIFT SAFE

Currently, the number of occupational
injuries/illnesses (low back pains/strains) has
increased significantly; reason being incorrect
method of manual lifting. Let us ensure that we
avoid injuries like low back pain & hernias by
adopting the correct method of lifting manually.
Such injuries as a result of incorrect repetitive
lifting are not only painful but often have
serious and long lasting consequences.
First,
First, there's
there's always
always the
the chance
chance of of something
something slipping
slipping
and
and landing
landing on
on your
your toes.
toes. Always
Always make
make sure
sure that
that theythey
are
are protected
protected by by wearing
wearing safety
safety shoes.
shoes. When
When lifting
lifting
objects
objects that
that have
have rough
rough oror sharp
sharp edges,
edges, make
make sure
sure that
that
you
you have
have aa pair
pair of
of good
good tough
tough gloves.
gloves. TheThe safe
safe way
way to to

² ²
lift,
lift, as
as you've
you've heard
heard dozens
dozens of of times,
times, is "BEND THE
is "BEND THE
KNEES
KNEES -- KEEP KEEP THE THE BACK BACK STRAIGHT",
STRAIGHT", This This
is
is necessary
necessary because,
because, ifif you
you bend
bend at at your
your waist
waist and and
lean
lean over
over with
with your
your back
back horizontal,
horizontal, thethe load
load is
is too
too farfar
from
from thethe center
center ofof balance.
balance. AllAll the
the strain
strain isis on
on the the

² ² ²
lower
lower back
back muscles,
muscles, which
which aren’t
aren’t built
built to
to take
take it.it. The
The
result
result can
can be
be aa sprained
sprained back
back oror aa much
much worser
worser injury.
injury.

By "BENDING YOUR KNEES" it doesn't mean that you need to squat

until you sit on your heels. You won't have any leg power to raise a load from
that position. Your position at the start of the lift should be more of a crouch,
so the power of your leg muscles can be off balance. We mean reasonably
straight, so the back muscles won't be doing all the work. The most important
rules to remember for safe lifting are the following:

9 Wear gloves when handling rough-edged equipment or material

9 Be sure of a good grip and good footing
9 Keep the load close to the body
9 See that your fingers and toes are clear of pinch points
9 Bend your knees and use your leg muscles
9 Don't twist your body while lifting
9 Don't try to lift or carry a load that's beyond your physical ability
- GET HELP!

SAFETY has no Quitting time Prepared by the CTSD

Safety Group