How to Lift Heavy Objects Safely
Lifting is something most of us need to do at some stage, whether around the home or even in the work place. But few people get trained on how to do it correctly and bad lifting can cause back problems or trigger those that you may already have! Improper lifting techniques are responsible for a large percentage of back injuries among agricultural workers. Proper methods of lifting and handling protect against injury, and make work easier. You need to “think” about what you are going to do before bending to pick up an object. Over time, safe lifting technique should become a habit. Here are a few tips to help you lift safely: • Plan before you lift: Test and examine the object before lifting or moving. Lift a corner of the object to determine its weight. If the object is too heavy or too wide to get it between the knees when lifting, get help or use mechanical assistance, or both. A big load of the same weight will put more strain on your body than a small load. If possible, break your
