Stacking boxes over head height forces employees to bend the torso forward to place the box on the pallet, or to lift the box up to or above head height to place it on the top of the stack. Even when boxes are moved by conveyors directly to refrigerated trucks, employees remove the boxes from the conveyor and then stack then in the truck above head height or at floor level. This can result in back and shoulder injuries.

• Stay within NIOSH guidelines for safe lifting.
• Reduce the size of the box or decrease the amount of weight to be lifted.
• Provide lift assists, so boxes may be lifted from the conveyor with the assist and placed on the pallet.
• Provide palletizers or scissor lifts for employees so they do not need to bend over to place boxes on pallets lying on floors.
• Develop a whole new workstation to eliminate elevated and low lifts
• Use a telescoping conveyor to load trucks if loads are not palletized.
• Rotate employees to tasks that do not require heavy lifting.

Employees working in cold environments must wear additional clothing, which can restrict movement and increase the force they must exert when performing lifting operations. Additionally, employees burn more energy in these environments to keep warm so fatigue may occur more rapidly, which increases the risk of injury. Cold areas may also have ice forming on work surfaces where slipping can cause injury or strain, especially if a load is being carried when the slip occurs.

• Provide warm clothing that fits properly and does not hinder movement.
• Provide adequate periods of rest so employees can recuperate.
• Rotate employees to less stressful conditions.
• Maintain areas and equipment to minimize slipping.