Employee Guidelines for Safer Lifting
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 Avoid lifting from the floor whenever possible. If you must lift from the floor
do not bend at the waist. The techniques shown below help the worker to keep the
spine in a safer position while lifting from the floor.
Keep the load close to your body and lift by pushing up with your legs.
Caution: This technique may be effective only if loads are small,
light weight, and can easily fit between the knees.
Lean the sack onto |
Slide the sack |
Slide the sack onto |
As you stand up keep the sack |
| your kneeling leg . |
up onto your |
the other leg while |
close to your body . |
|
kneeling leg . |
keeping the sack |
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|
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close to your body. |
|
Use team lifting as a temporary measure until a more permanent improvement
can be found. If possible try to find a co-worker of similar height to help with the lift.
Team lifting can reduce the load in half. Discuss your lifting plan so you don't make surprise
movements.
Use a scissors lift, load lifter, or pneumatic lifter to raise or lower the load so that it is level with
the work surface. Then slide the load instead of lifting.
| Scissors lifts |
Pneumatic lifter |
Adjust the load |
|
(accordion skirting) |
lifter to shelf |
|
|
level and remove |
|
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containers by |
|
|
sliding them out. |
Use a turntable. Rotate the
turntable to bring the container closer. Always work from the side closest to the load.
Turntable on a load leveler
Fixed-height turntable for pallets with short low stacks.
Caution: To promote stability when loading
and unloading,
rotate the turntable
occasionally to avoid the buildup of the
load on one side.
Turntable with a turntable inset
|
Turntable on a cart |
 Use a tool.
This pot lifter reduces bending and reaching when handling pots or other cylindrical containers
(see Appendix E, page 64, University of California Agricultural Ergonomics Research Center, UC Davis).
Raise the worker so that the container is grasped 30"—40" from the surface the worker is standing on.
| Use a step stool. |
Use portable steps. |
Use catwalks or platforms. |
Use a portable work platform and adjust it to the height of the worker.
Caution: When using portable steps, stools, catwalks, or other work
platforms follow all manufactures' recommendations for proper use. Use only equipment appropriate to the
weight, size, and shape of the load being handled.
 Work within your power zone.
Raise or lower the work surface.
| Stack pallets to create a |
Use electric or |
Use powered stackers. |
| higher work surface. |
pneumatic scissors lift |
|
|
(accordion skirting). |
|
| Provide variable-height |
Use mobile scissors lifts. |
Use stationary scissors lift. |
| work surfaces. |
Store heavier or bulkier containers so that they can be handled within your power zone where you have the greatest strength and most comfort.
Work within power zone. Tilt the container to improve handling of materials. 
Use fixed or adjustable tilt stands for smaller containers.
Powered tilters provide better
access to large containers.
Use angled shelving to improve access to containers. 
Hold the container close to the body when lifting and lowering.
For easier access, remove or lower the sides of the receptacle.
Add extra handles for better grip and control.
Support the container on or against a fixed object, rack, or stand while pouring the contents.
Use a removable plate or a work surface to support the container while pouring the contents into the receptacle.
Use a screen over the opening to support the stack. Pour the contents through the screen.
Use a cutout work surface so that you can get closer to the container.
Use a pail tipper.
Manual pail tippers are available for 1-, 2-, and 5-gallon containers.
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