This lesson sets out the main principles of good handling. They are ideas, not skills. Learning to lift well takes practice with a trained instructor on your own tasks. Treat this lesson as the theory behind that practice.
Why technique alone is not enough
The HSA states that training based mainly on technique has no impact on working practices or injury rates when it stands alone. A person who lifts well can still be hurt by a load that is too heavy, a floor that is slippery or a pace that is too fast. Good technique is one part of a safe system of work, not a way around a risky task.
Before the lift
- Stop and think. What is the load? Where will it go? Is there a better way?
- Know the weight. Employers should give weights, where possible. If you do not know, test it first, for example by moving one corner. Ask for an aid if it needs one.
- Check the route for obstacles, steps, wet floors, closed doors and poor light.
- Check the destination: is there room to set the load down safely?
- Think about your clothes and footwear. They should let you move freely and give a good grip.
- Use an aid or ask for help when the load is heavy, bulky, awkward or the task is repeated often.
During the lift
- Get a stable base, with the feet apart and one foot slightly forward.
- Keep a good posture: head up, back in its natural curve, and use the legs and hips to do the work.
- Take a firm grip and keep the load close to the body.
- Lift smoothly. Sudden or jerky movements add force and raise the risk of losing control.
- Avoid twisting the trunk. Move your feet to turn.
- Do not change your grip in mid-lift if you can avoid it.
Carrying
- Keep the load close and where you can see over or around it.
- Keep carrying distances short. The HSA guide says that beyond about 10 metres, carrying becomes the main demand.
- Use a trolley if you can. Converting a carry to a push or pull is often safer.
- Take care on stairs and in doorways.
Putting down
- Slow down at the end. Set the load down with the same care as lifting.
- If the load must go on the floor, bend the knees and hips rather than dropping the back.
- Avoid placing heavy items very low or very high. Where possible, store the heaviest items at waist height.
Handling at height and at the floor
Lifts that start or end at floor level, or above shoulder height, are the highest-risk positions. Ask whether the load can be stored somewhere easier to reach.
Unfamiliar or awkward loads
The HSA says a training programme should include procedures for dealing with unfamiliar loads. In short: stop, check the weight and shape, plan the grip, look for an aid, and ask for help if the load is unstable, hot, sharp or leaking.
If something goes wrong
If you feel pain during a lift, put the load down safely if you can and stop. Tell your supervisor. Do not carry on and hope it passes.
Key points
- Plan the lift, know the weight, check the route and the destination.
- Stable base, good posture, load close, smooth movement, no twisting.
- Keep carries short and use a trolley when possible.
- Technique helps, but it cannot make a risky task safe on its own.
- Practice with an instructor on your own tasks is a separate and necessary step.