Following good safety procedures can sometimes be a headache. But the following safety assumptions can result in excruciating back pain that may dog you for the rest of your life.
- “I can lift this by myself.” Maybe you can. But are you trying to impress somebody or ensure that you’ll be able to keep coming to work?
- “It’s not too heavy.” So, you recognize it’s heavy. There’s your red flag to get help lifting or moving whatever it is. And watch your fingers!
- “There’s no time to find a lift truck.” If a lift might put your back at risk, it can wait until you’ve found a lift truck.
- “I have a tight grip.” The average man has about 30 pounds of gripping pressure in each hand, and that decreases as each minute passes.
- “The load looks stable enough.” Make sure it can’t slide, roll, or tip; suddenly catching a lurching load will almost certainly strain your back.
Finally, keep in mind that your back is strongest when your posture is good.
