Safety Topic: Lift It Twice

Most of you have heard the general rules of safe lifting. Remember to “Get a firm grip on the load, keep it close, bend at the knees, use your legs to lift the load, and keep your spine in the natural position (with an arch in your lower back).” These principles always apply and should be incorporated into every lift-if possible!

Given the enormous number of “risky” lifting situations that most of us are faced with at the work place, you may not be able to apply these principles every time. This is why you must always remember to LIFT IT TWICE!

The act of lifting is the same as any other movement that you can learn to do better with practice. As you know, the more you practice a skill the better you become at doing it. But preparing to master a skill normally involves mental as well as physical training. Consider bowling, golf, even sharp-shooting. You think carefully about the movements you’re going to make before you do them.  Similarly, lifting TWICE means applying the principal of planning your movements prior to performing the lift:

Your first lift is a MENTAL lift. Think about the lift prior to actually doing it:

1.  How am I going to lift the item? Can I do it myself or should I get some help?

2.  How heavy is the item? Do I need to use mechanical assistance?

3.  Where am I taking the item being lifted? Is the area clear where I need to set it down?

4.  Is it a difficult path or a distance to go?

5.  What hazards may hamper the lift or obstruct the travel path?

6.  Eliminate those hazards before you lift the item. In other words, PLAN THE LIFT FIRST!

The second lift is the actual physical lift. Here is where you carry out your plan. Use proper body mechanics and techniques while going through the motions. Bend those knees!  Most important: Keep the load as close to your body as possible and don’t twist.