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Lifting Tool for Carrying Plant Containers:
| Problem: |
One Solution: |
Lifting and carrying plant containers by hand
can cause injuries. |
Use specially designed handles to pick up
and carry containers. |
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| Worker must stoop, grip, and lift repeatedly. |
Tool handle allows a full-hand “power grip”
rather than a pinch grip. |
Forward stooping can contribute to lower back
injury. |
Decreases forward bending angle and
amount of time spent in stooped posture. |
Finger-pinch gripping can lead to tendinitis
in hands. |
Reduces lifting strain. |
| |
Can improve worker productivity. |
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Tips for Use of Tool:
The tool is designed to allow the container to swing back and hang at a comfortable angle. Do not apply
excessive wrist torque when setting container down onto a surface. Instead, allow space for a gentle forward
swing that is timed with placement of the container on the surface. The back-grip design keeps hands clear
of thorns on certain types of plants and allows for a straight wrist position while carrying a container. It is
advisable to use two tools and carry two plants, to balance the load on the body. Avoid carrying containers
heavier than about 22 pounds in each hand; this would exceed guidelines for safe lifting.
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Lifting Tool
How Does the Lifting Tool Work?
The tool has three parts: a) the hand-grip, b) the container
coupling, and c) the 16-inch extension. It is
made of aluminum and steel and has proven to work
best with 5-gallon containers
that have an external
lip. From a standing position
the worker slides the
coupling point under the
container's lip and lifts.
 
How Much Difference Does
the Lifting Tool Make?
The tool shown here was designed for use in outdoor
nurseries specializing in ornamental and bedding
plants. At nurseries in California where it was tested, it
reduced workers' forward bending angle by as much
as 47%. The time spent working at a forward-bent
angle of more than 20 degrees was reduced by nearly
half. Hand gripping effort was reduced by more than
half. Lifting strain was reduced by 40%. Workers
reported less work-related pain when using the handles,
and those who had the most severe symptoms at
the start reported the most improvement.
How Much Will It Cost?
Materials should cost about $15 each plus the cost of
fabrication, whether done in-house or jobbed out.
How Does Tool Use Affect
Productivity?
Use of the handle resulted in the same or slightly
improved productivity for ground-to-ground container
spacing, its recommended use.
How to Make a Lifting Tool
Materials List & Construction Information:
- Rubber grip; tapered from about 1-3/16" to 1-7/16" OD; to fit
1" OD tube; typically available in industrial supply catalogs.
- 1" OD x 0.065" wall aluminum tube; cut at 21º; 4-3/4" on long
side; welded at 69º angle to Part 3.
- 1" x 1" x 1/8" x 16"-long aluminum angle; holes drilled on 1"
centers and 0.5" from edge measured on 1"-wide side.
- 1.5" x 1.5" x 0.094" x 3/8"-long steel sq. tube; welded along
top joint.
- 1" x 1" x 0.065" x 5"-long steel sq. tube; 1/4" hole drilled 2-
1/2" from end and 3/8" from edge; welded to Part 9 with 2"
overlap.
- 1.5" x 1.5" x 0.094" x
3/8"-long steel sq. tube;
remains loose on tube.
- 1/4" D x 1"-long steel
round; inserted into Part
5 and welded flush on
the non-visible side in
drawing above.
- 1-1/2" x 1/8" steel flat bar cut
at about 45º with approximate
top and bottom lengths
of 1" and 2-1/2", respectively;
notched generally as shown
in drawing above (notches
are for container lips that
have reinforcement ribs that
may interfere with the coupling
of the "point" and the
container); ends bent slightly forward after welding; welded
to Part 9 with 1/2" overlap.
- 1" x 1" x 0.065" steel sq. tube; cut at 45; 4-1/2" on long side.
- 1" x 1/8" x 9-1/2" long steel flat bar; 1/2" end-bends pointing
forward; approx. 7-1/4" overall width after rolling; welded at
bottom of Part 9.
Note: Steel may be substituted for aluminum for cost or fabrication
reasons, but steel will increase the tool's weight from
its current 1-3/4 pounds.
Contact Information:
This Tip Sheet was produced by the University of
California Agricultural Ergonomics Research Center
under a grant from the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health.
UC Ag Ergonomics Research Center, Bio & Ag
Engineering, UC Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis,
CA 95616-5294. Or visit http://ag-ergo.ucdavis.edu.
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Lifting Tool for Carrying Plant Containers 
(53 pages, 1.49MB)