Manual Lifting and Material Handling
The use of material handling equipment is always encouraged when moving items around a warehouse. But sometimes using equipment is not practical to accomplish a given task. Quite often, you will need to move items without any equipment. A common task in warehouses is unstacking and restacking products onto pallets, carts, shelves, or into storage areas. Manual lifting and material handling involve bending, squatting, turning, twisting, reaching, walking, climbing, and other physical motions to move items where they need to go.
Unfortunately, these sometimes repetitive motions can lead to strains, sprains, and other overexertion injuries in many parts of the body. Nearly 65 percent of warehouse injuries occur while lifting, carrying, or handling materials. When it comes to injuries caused by lifting, we tend to associate them with back injuries. When you lift improperly, you put yourself at risk by lifting heavy, large, awkward, or unbalanced objects. Back injuries are all too common in this environment, but they can be prevented by simply following a few important lifting techniques.
Size up all loads (before lifting) to determine the weight and whether or not you can get a good grip on the object
Bend down, keeping your back in its natural S-shape and get as close to the object as possible
Keep all objects close to your body as you lift with your legs
Lift each load without overexerting or making sudden, quick movements
Do not twist or bend while lifting objects
Avoid lifting materials from the floor while seated
Make use of available handling aids
Reduce load size when possible
Never lift a load over an obstacle
Get help from a coworker for large or awkward objects