| A useful guide for proper lifting techniques. | | | | Third, bend your knees and squat in front of the |
| Invaluable to anyone trying to avoid injury through | | | | load. This will allow you to get as close as |
| preventative measures. I am sure may of our | | | | possible to the object. |
| readers at one time or another, in the course of | | | | Forth, you are ready to lift the load. Pushing up |
| their careers have lifted a heavy load. From UPS | | | | with your legs, tighten your abdominal muscles |
| workers and FEDEX workers may lift every day, | | | | and breathe steadily as you lift the load close to |
| but how about the assembly workers? How | | | | your body. |
| about the workers for the CTA or Metra | | | | Fifth, as you carry the load, make sure you are in |
| Railroad? Let us not forget about the hard | | | | the upright position, and if you need to change |
| working city officials including the Fire Dept. and | | | | direction, simply move your feet. |
| the City Policemen. And our federal working | | | | Lastly, you need to lower the load by bending |
| class such as the postal delivery. The point is, | | | | your knees, being sure to use only the leg and |
| every day we find ourselves lifting, pushing and | | | | arm muscles. |
| carrying objects of various weights. We are | | | | If followed carefully, these steps, will assure an |
| constantly carrying our work on our backs and | | | | easy lift, and will protect your back from injury. |
| wearing down our bodies. | | | | If you feel you have been injured, some major |
| Now the question is, do you take the right | | | | symptoms include sharp shooting pain into the |
| precautions while lifting? Most jobs have training | | | | back and legs, numbness or tingling into one or |
| where a proper lifting procedure is taught. Many | | | | both buttocks/legs, swollen ankles, weakness, |
| workplaces implement protocols for lifting | | | | inability to bend at the hip, inability to perform |
| overweight items and some jobs require the use | | | | activities over shoulder level. Minor symptoms |
| of a lumbar support belt while doing so. All jobs | | | | may be associated with deep aches into the back, |
| are required by law to meet OSHA ergonomic | | | | difficulty sleeping and difficulty standing or sitting |
| compliance and must undergo mandatory training. | | | | for long periods of time. |
| Communicating an ergonomically safe lifting | | | | Many chiropractic and physical therapy doctors |
| procedure is the most effective way to prevent | | | | around US offer various work-out machinery and |
| costly back injuries. | | | | physical therapy equipment, that can’t be |
| There are six important procedures in the lifting | | | | found at any local gym, to rehabilitate and |
| protocol. | | | | strengthen lower back muscles. Did you know |
| First, size the load. For your safety and the | | | | that most jobs have a workman’s |
| safety of others around you, never lift a load | | | | compensation policy that allows treatment |
| heavier than your comfort level. | | | | following a reportable incident? So if you believe |
| Second, secure your footing. Wearing the | | | | you have been injured at work from improper |
| proper rubber soles, plant your feet in a | | | | lifting, or whatever the situation might be, contact |
| comfortable position in front of the load. Keep | | | | your local doctor (or come to our Chicago physical |
| your body straight, and put one foot forward of | | | | therapy clinics if you are in the area). |
| the other so as not to loose your balance. | | | | |