When handling equipment, it’s essential that you take the proper precautions beforehand, and that you maintain good form throughout the handling itself to avoid injury.
Preparation
The first and most important step is to prepare for the lift properly. You need to factor in the weight, how steady it is, how to carry it, the distance (and any obstructions), and any equipment you may need.
Remember: just because you can pick it up, doesn’t mean that you can carry it up a winding staircase, so make sure to take the necessary precautions for safe handling. Also check for any hazardous elements, such as nails or other sharp objects, as well as any wires or trip hazards.
When practising the safe handling of medication, you must be wary of syringes and other sharp instruments. We can’t cover the nuances of medical fields here, but online courses such as tidaltraining.co.uk/health-and-social-care-courses/safe-handling-of-medication-training can help.
Positioning and Balance
Grapple with the object to find the best areas to grip and lift it. If possible, hook your fingers around something, as this will alleviate a lot of the pressure whilst also requiring minimal strength to maintain your grip.
When picking up anything heavy, you should avoid using your back to lift. You want to position your feet wide and lift primarily with your legs in a squat-like movement. Keeping your feet apart helps with balance, but you also don’t need to keep them planted, especially if you’re wobbly. If you’re unsure how exactly to lift with your legs, see this helpful guide.
Moving
Once you’ve picked up the object, ensure you maintain good posture (straight back, chin up). Hold the load close, as objects become heavier and more cumbersome the farther they are from you.
If you keep the heavier side of the object towards you, this will also help with balancing and managing the weight.
Placing
Just like when you picked it up, you want to squat down with your legs to place it. Don’t worry about alignment too much, as you can easily shift the object around on the ground.