Guidelines for Safe Lifting Guidelines for Safe Lifting The Spine’s Basic Functions • Provides support • Protects the spinal cord • Provides flexibility for bending and rotating.
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Transcript Guidelines for Safe Lifting Guidelines for Safe Lifting The Spine’s Basic Functions • Provides support • Protects the spinal cord • Provides flexibility for bending and rotating.
Guidelines for
Safe Lifting
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
The Spine’s Basic Functions
• Provides support
• Protects the spinal
cord
• Provides flexibility
for bending and
rotating
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Develop A Neutral Spine
Neutral Spine:
When the …….
Cervical (neck);
Thoracic (middle); and
Lumbar (lower) curves
are present and in good
alignment
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Develop A Neutral Spine
• Keep your spinal
column aligned in its
natural curves
• Prop one foot up on
a stool to reduce
stress in your lower
back
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Develop A Neutral Spine
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/PatientE
d/Materials/PDFDocs/employee/backhea.pdf
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Getting Ready
• Make sure you are
ready for lifting
• Avoid heavy lifts
immediately upon
starting work
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Getting Ready
• Shift your posture often
• Stretch frequently
throughout the day
• Keep your body flexible
(not rigid or fixed)
• Don’t force your body to
conform to its workspace
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Plan for Lifting
Will a back belt
work for you?
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Plan for Lifting
Checkout your carrying route
Check the weight of the load
Make sure your load is secure so no shifting
occurs
Wear appropriate boots or shoes for good
traction
If gloves are worn, choose a size that fits
properly
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Plan for Lifting
• Can you eliminate
heavy lifting with
moving equipment?
• Could the load
overly stress your
upper body?
• Would lifting and
carrying be too
fatiguing?
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Plan for Lifting
Use proper equipment
– Hand trucks
– Forklifts
– Dollies
Push, don’t pull!
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Plan for Lifting
Above your
shoulders?
– Use a stool or ladder
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Safe Lifting Techniques
Keep the lifts in the
power (safe
lifting) zone if
possible.
Safe Lifting
Techniques
Take a wide stance
Tighten your stomach
muscles
Use smooth, even
motions when lifting
Safe Lifting
Techniques
Keep load close to
your body
Use your legs to push
up and lift the load
Do not use your
upper body or back to
lift!
Safe Lifting
Techniques
Continue to lift the
load close to your
body and straighten
your legs.
Safe Lifting
Techniques
Stand
up straight
before walking
with the load
Move your feet
instead of twisting
your body
Safe Lifting
Techniques
Lower the load to the
ground by bending your
knees, not your back
Keep the load close to
your body
Never bend your upper
body or back
Keep your hands and
feet clear
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Team Lifting
Team lifting MUST be
coordinated
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Team Lifting
Communicate to
your co-worker that
you are ready
Get close to the
object
Lift slowly together
Use your legs to lift
Do not twist
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Summary
Warm-up muscles before lifting
Check weight of load
Keep lifts in your Power Zone
Keep your eyes slightly up
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Summary
Hold close
to your
body
Bend your
knees, never
your back
Lift with your knees
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Summary
Never carry anything
you can’t see over or
around
Team lift when the
load is too much for
one person
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Summary
Do Not
Lift while reaching or
stretching
Lift from an uncomfortable
posture
Fight to recover a dropped
object (let it go)!
Guidelines for Safe Lifting
Summary
Do Not
Twist and lift
Lift with one hand
(unbalanced)
Lift loads across
obstacles
Guidelines For Safe Lifting
Treat your back well, it’s
the only one you have.