California Ag Education

Lifting Safely

By Bill Kellogg, Teacher EducatorCal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Whenever materials and equipment have to be manually moved, the possibility of accidents and injuries is increased. In our line of work (as Ag teachers), we are consistently lifting objects, whether it be heavy boxes, flats of bedding plants, bales of hay, a day-old calf, a computer monitor, etc. Just the other day, while setting concrete forms, I tweaked my back in such a way, just by driving a nail in an awkward position, that I barely was able to get myself home under intense pain. Not that I think that “old age” is setting in on me, I just think that we all need to be aware of the need to protect ourselves from back injuries.

        Back injuries are the #1 worker’s compensation claim! While injuries to back muscles, vertebrae, disks, and nerves are probably the most frequent and severe result of improper lifting, materials-handling accidents also result in lacerations, crushed fingers and toes, falls, and abdominal hernias. Injuries related to materials-handling accidents can be classified as either a trauma or non-trauma injury. Accidents that happen suddenly and result in broken bones, skin lacerations, or bruising are said to have caused a trauma injury. These injuries can be clearly traced back to something you did. Non-trauma injuries are temporary or permanent injuries to internal parts of the body, such as nerves or spinal disks, that are caused by extreme or awkward physical stress being placed on the body. Incorrectly lifting, carrying, or twisting may lead to a non-trauma injury. Non-trauma injuries can occur gradually over time, and the injurious effect of improper materials handling may not be realized for several days or months after the stress has occurred. Back and other non-trauma injuries are always difficult to document because there is often not a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

        When improper lifting takes place, such as bending over at the waist, or twisting the body while lifting, the spinal column no longer supports the weight evenly and excessive stress is placed on the abdominal muscles and vertebrae in the lumbar region. It is not necessary that you lift a heavy load to be injured! If your body is incorrectly bent over or twisted, even lifting a relatively light object can result in an injury (believe me, I know!). The most common, and most severe, damage that occurs in improper lifting is damage inflicted on the soft disks that cushion the vertebrae.

         Now that some of the basic hazards associated with improper lifting are apparent, what can we, as Ag teachers, do to prevent these types of injuries? A good, safe lifting rule to implement is to require that you lift every object twice. The first lift is a “mental lift.” This may include thinking about how heavy an object is, how it can be lifted safely, whether assistance should be obtained, whether the area is clear of obstructions, and so on. Once you have thought out these questions, then prepare to lift the object.

        The four basic rules for safe lifting are: 1) Do not lift heavy objects without first obtaining assistance; 2) Use your leg muscles, not your back muscles; 3) Keep the spinal column as straight as possible; and, 4) Do not twist the body to either side when lifting or setting down a load. The most correct way to lift a load is as follows: Position the object to be lifted between the legs and keep the spinal column straight, although not necessarily vertical, to maintain even pressure on the vertebrae and discs. This is most easily accomplished by bending at the hips and knees so that the thighs are almost horizontal to the ground and the pressure of the lift is taken up, in large part, by the leg muscles, not the back or abdominal muscles. The lift is accomplished by straightening the legs to a vertical position, and keeping the load close to the body. This is the same lifting procedure that is used by professional weight lifters.

         Use of a lifting belt or reinforced fabric work belt can also be very beneficial by a providing abdominal and lumbar support. These wide work belts force us to bend at the knees, instead of at the waist.

         Chances are we’ve all been taught how to safely lift an object. But do we routinely follow the correct practice? It does not hurt for us to be reminded, from time to time, about the need to follow correct lifting procedures. The older we get, they more we need to be concerned about keeping our backs in good condition.

        If you have an area of safety you would like addressed in this column, send Bill Kellogg an e-mail note or call him at (805) 756-2973. He will discuss questions or concerns. Notes can be addressed to bkellogg@calpoly.edu.

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