April Tip of the Month
Spring is in the air!!! While spring may not be in full swing for Rochester NY, many people begin their spring cleaning regardless. Whether you are planning to clean a few rooms, revamp your yard or totally overhaul the garage, lifting often plays an important role at getting to that built up grub and grime. If not done correctly and safely, lifting can cause serious injury. Here are 10 tips for safe lifting or moving of any object.
1) When objects are below the level of your hips, stoop or squat.
2) Widen your feet to increase your base of support and improve your balance and stability.
3) Move close to the object to be lifted and keep it close to your body as you perform the lift and carry the object.
4) Do not flatten the curve in your low back as you lift. Keep the natural curve it has.
5) Mentally plan the lift: be certain you can safely lift the object without assistance, have sufficient space to perform the lift and test the weight of the object.
6) Do not lift and twist your back simultaneously. Instead pivot your feet if you need to turn.
7) Avoid lifting quickly or with a jerky motion.
8) When possible, move the object by pushing, pulling, sliding or rolling. (pushing is better than pulling)
9) Avoid repetitive and sustained lifting.
10) When retrieving an object from a low surface, such as the trunk of a car, do not bend at the waist and lift. Instead, bend your hips and knees slightly and move the object close to you before lifting it.
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