Correct Lifting Technique — Avoiding Back Injury

Talking Points

1. 1 Assess before you lift: weight, shape, distance, frequency — is this a one-person or two-person lift?
2. 2 Foot position: feet shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly forward
3. 3 Back straight, chin up — lift with your legs, not your back. Hinge at the hips like a hinge, not like a crane
4. 4 Get close to the load — hugging the load to your body reduces spinal load significantly
5. 5 Turn with your feet, not your torso — twisting while bent is a major cause of disc injury
6. 6 If the load is above chest height or below knee height: get help, use a trolley, or find a different method
7. 7 Team lift: designate one person to call the lift — everyone lifts together on the count
8. 8 If in doubt: stop and ask — a 30-second conversation about load assessment prevents a career-ending injury

Control Measures

• Manual handling risk assessment completed for all repetitive or heavy tasks
• Mechanical aids available: sack trucks, pallet jacks, trolleys, wheelbarrows, crane/hoist for heavy items
• Task rotation policy: alternate heavy tasks with light tasks to reduce cumulative load
• Correct lifting technique included in site induction
• Supervisors trained to identify unsafe lifting and intervene proactively