General Lifting Guidelines: Plan Ahead

Check the pathway you are taking:

• Any obstacles
• Slip hazards
• Is the walking surface solid
• Are doors open

Visualize the lift in your mind:

• Posture
• Coupling points
• One‐ or two‐person job

Test the load:

• Too heavy or bulky for one person
• Is object stable and balanced
• Can it be divided into smaller loads

Are mechanical aids available?

• Dolly
• Hand truck
• Cart

Any twisting involved?

Avoid loads that are too heavy:
(Take into consideration the distance of object from body and the location of the final resting point.)

• Get help
• Divide the load
• Use mechanical aids

Establish proper footing:

• Feet at least shoulder width apart
• One foot slightly ahead of the other (karate stance)
• Firm footing (surface condition, type of footwear)
• Are you positioned as close to the object as possible

Bend at the knees rather than at the waist:

• Use the larger leg muscles to give strength to the lift
• Maintain neutral posture
• Lead with the head and torso
• Sustain smooth continuous motion
• Do not rush the lift
• Use the strong leg muscles
• Tighten your abdomen (contract stomach muscles)

Keep the load as close as possible to the body:

• Avoid a negative “leverage”
• Put yourself at a biomechanical advantage

Avoid twisting:

• Move your feet – take small steps and pivot instead
• Reposition the object if possible

Push rather than pull the load:

• Let your large leg muscles do most of the work
• Stay close to the load
• Don’t lean forward
• Use both arms
• Keep your stomach muscles tight

If you must pull the load:

• Face the load squarely (one foot at least 12” in front of the other)
• Keep your back in neutral position
• Bend your knees slightly
• Pull with one smooth motion

Avoid lifting outside the “safe zone”

• Don’t lift above the shoulders
• Don’t lift from below the knees
• Don’t reach over an object to lift a load, instead move object or go around it

Minimize the frequency of lifts. Consider:

• The weight of the object
• The distance to travel with the object
• The height to which the object is raised/elevated

Develop specific procedures for common lifting tasks:

• Consider using Ergonomic Interventions.

Identify, reduce, and/or eliminate risk factors:

• Engineering Controls
• Administrative Controls
• Work Methods