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September
2004 Safety Tip
Safe lifting
There
are many activities, both at home and on the job, that require routine
lifting. But lifting the wrong way can lead to serious back injury. By
using the following tips your back can be pain-free.
- Plan your lift
- Gently stretch
your muscles
- Use dollies, carts,
or other mechanical equipment
- Lift only what
you can handle safely
- Lift with your
legs and not your back
- Never twist your
body when lifting
- Carry the load
as close as possible to your body
- Use your knees
to slowly lower the load
- Have co-workers
assist you with oversized loads
The
following are 8 steps to performing a safe lift:
- Keep a wide stance
and solid footing
- Use a squatting
position with bent knees and hips AND a straight back
- Tighten stomach
muscles
- Firmly grasp the
load
- Hug the load close
to your body
- Lift steadily with
your legs, keeping your back straight and not twisting
- Point your feet
in the direction you want to move
- Set the load down
by squatting, maintaining the natural curvature of your spine
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