Safety is a high priority at many Minnesota workplaces. If your job involves frequent lifting, it is important to use proper lifting techniques to prevent an injury.
Proper lifting techniques are more important than you may think. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, one of the main reasons people get hurt at work is because they lifted an object incorrectly. People can easily harm their elbows or wrists or pull a muscle when they do not pay attention to how they lift objects at work and it is a good idea for you to correct your lifting techniques so you do not get hurt.
Your lifting posture can be one factor which determines whether you sustain an injury. You might put too much pressure on your spine if you carry an object with one hand or on one shoulder. You may also stress your back muscles if you bend over to lift a load. It is a good idea to put loads of equal size in each hand so you do not strain the muscles on one side of your body. You may also want to avoid bending over to pick up a load. You should typically make sure you store objects on racks or shelves so they are easier to pick up.
One factor that might increase your chance of incurring an injury is your physical environment. If you lift heavy objects in a cold room, you may pull a muscle because muscles are not always flexible in cold temperatures. Additionally, you may be more likely to trip when you are lifting and moving loads in a room which is not well-lit. You can prevent these injuries by putting on a jacket or other warm clothing if you will need to work in a cold environment and by making sure you have enough light to see what you are doing.
This information is intended to educate. It should not be used in place of legal advice.
