Precautions For Lifting Heavy Items Safely
Do you know the correct way to lift a heavy object without injuring yourself? This is one of the essential skills you need to learn before trying to handle a move without a professional mover's input. Here are a few tips for lifting heavy objects:
Lift With Your Legs
You may not know this, but your back is much more fragile than your legs. Therefore, you need to let your legs bear most of the weight of the heavy object you are lifting and not your legs. To do this, bend your knees, and not your wait when you want to pick up the heavy box. This posture reduces the forces experienced by your spinal cord, which reduces its risk of injury, such as a slipped disc.
Widen Your Base
Apart from risking your back, you may also lose your balance and fall if you aren't stable when lifting your heavy box. To increase stability, you need to increase your "base" of support, which means your legs should be wide apart (not too wide, shoulder length is enough). It also helps to put one leg in front of other, much like the stance martial artists use in their sport.
Hold the Weight Properly
If the heavy box doesn't have handles, slip your hands beneath it instead of holding it by the sides. This reduces the risk that the box will slip out of your hands and crash your feet or get damaged. Of course, you should test the weight of the box first to confirm you can handle the weight. It's also a good idea not to lift anything heavy above your head; you risk having it fall on you. If you want to load it somewhere higher than you, use a tool, such as a ladder, instead of lifting.
Keep the Object Close
Increase your safety by keeping the box as close to you as possible. This makes the object easier to lift since it reduces the amount of force you need to lift it. You are also more stable that way compared to somebody lifting the box with their hands extended. Therefore, don't try to reach for a heavy box. For example, if it is behind another object, go around the barrier and lift the box, instead o reaching for it behind the barrier.
Alternatively, you can avoid all the risk by engaging a moving company to do the job for you. These people are not only experienced in their job, but they also have the right tools, such as ladders, or handling heavy boxes. To learn more about moving click on this related site.