Technical training
Lift Standard / V3 2023-05-02
Think before handling/lifting . Plan the lift/ handling activity. Where is the load going to be placed? Use appropriate handling aids where possible. Will help be needed with the load? Remove obstructions, such as discarded wrapping materials. For long lifts, such as from floor to shoulder height, consider resting the load mid-way on a table or bench to change grip.
Keep the load close to the waist . Keep the load close to the waist for as long as possible while lifting. The distance of the load from the spine at waist height is an important factor in the overall load on the spine and back muscles. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body. If a close approach to the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before attempting to lift it.
Adopt a stable position . The feet should be apart with one leg in front of the other (alongside the load if it is on the ground) to increase the stability of the worker’s posture. The worker should be prepared to move their feet during the lift to maintain a stable posture. Wearing over- tight clothing or unsuitable footwear may make this difficult.
Ensure a good hold on the load . Where possible, hug the load as close as possible to the body. This may be better than gripping it tightly only with the hands. Moderate flexion (slight bending) of the back, hips and knees at the start of the lift is preferable to either fully flexing the back (stooping) or fully flexing the hips and knees (full/ deep squatting) Don’t flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to straighten before starting to raise the load. The worker should start the movement with the strong leg muscles while keeping the back posture constant.
Figure 3 – Basic lifting operations 4
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