4 Ways to Avoid Injuries From Lifting Heavy Objects at Work

Back injuries account for one-quarter of all workplace accidents every year. The majority are caused by lifting heavy objects.

Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, you could easily become one of these statistics.

Here are four ways to avoid a heavy lifting accident at work:

Wear the Right Gear

One of the easiest ways to avoid an accident is to wear the right gear. For example, when lifting heavy objects, make sure that you’re wearing a supportive belt and shoes with good traction. The belt will help keep your core strong and stable, while the shoes will help you keep your footing on wet or slippery surfaces.

Also, avoid loose clothing as they can easily get caught on machinery or other objects, leading to a severe accident.

Use Proper Lifting Techniques

If you don’t know how to lift heavy objects properly, it’s only a matter of time before you get hurt. To avoid this, make sure that you learn the proper lifting techniques.

Use your legs when lifting something heavy rather than using your back or arms. First, bend at the knees and keep the object close to your waist throughout the lift. Then, straighten up by pushing through with your legs. You can also ask for help if an object is too heavy for one person alone to carry safely without injury.

Use Lifting Aids When Possible

Another easy way to avoid an accident is simply not having to do any lifting in the first place. If there are tools available that could help move things around, use them instead of lifting objects manually.

For example, use a hand truck for moving boxes or other heavy items around. Use levers and pulleys to move things vertically. When lifting something from a lower level, use steps instead of bending over at the waist and picking it up by yourself.

Take Breaks

When lifting heavy objects, it’s important to give your body time to rest and recuperate. Otherwise, you’re much more likely to injure yourself.

Take a break every 20 minutes or so and drink plenty of water. Make sure that you’ve had a good meal before beginning any strenuous activity. And if something feels too heavy, stop right away and ask for help!

Speak With a Missouri Workers Compensation Attorney

Have you been injured while carrying out a work-related task that involved heavy lifting? At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, our Missouri workers’ compensation attorneys have over 30 years of experience helping injured workers get the compensation they deserve. Give us a call 24/7 for a free case evaluation.