Man Under Arnoff Sign
In the transportation industry, we lift objects all day long. Obviously we lift a lot of boxes – small and large boxes, over sized boxes, heavy and light boxes. We lift furniture, appliances, household items of every shape and size, heavy and light items. We lift office equipment, machines, chairs, desks, filing cabinets. We lift sculptures, over sized artworks, crated objects – you name it!

We move all of these items up stairs and down stairs. We move them down long passageways, through tight doorways, up ramps and down ramps, out of basements and into basements.

There is a lot of bending and lifting that goes into moving these varied objects, but one constant remains the same – how we protect our bodies when we lift ANYTHING.

Lifting 101
  1. You have heard this a million times, but it is the holy grail of lifting – do not lift from your back, lift from your legs. Be sure your footing is solid, and keep the object as close to your body as possible.
  2. Every time you lift, be aware of what you’re about to do. Don’t lift without thinking, because it’s those sudden lifting movements that cause most injuries.
  3. Test the weight of the object before lifting it so you are prepared for a heavy or light load.
  4. Lifting a large or heavy piece with someone else takes the load off both of your backs.
  5. Keep your eyes open for anything sharp that may cut you – nails, splinters, sharp edges.
  6. Pull your stomach in while lifting to protect your lower back.
  7. If you need to turn while you’re lifting, move your feet instead of twisting your back/waist.