Live Safe! Work Smart!

Do's and don'ts of lifting boxes

Dos and Don'ts of lifting boxes

It can hurt if you...

To be safe you can...

Man turning around while lifting a heavy object, hurting himself as a result.

turn when lifting a heavy object

Woman holding and moving a box correctly. 

always move your feet and turn your whole body when you move in a new direction – don’t twist at your waist.

Title: Man reaches box too low - Description: Illustration of a man trying to lift a box that is too low for him. He ends up hurting his back.

reach too high or too low

Man who lifting and moving a box correctly.

put objects where you can reach them easily.

stand on a sturdy step stool when you have to put things on a shelf that is above your shoulders.

bend your knees and squat to reach low places – do not bend your back.

Man who having trouble lifting a box that is too heavy for him. 

Lift things that are too heavy

Two men who are lifting a heavy box together.

stop and ask for help if you aren’t sure you can lift something.

break a big load up into smaller pieces and make more trips.

put things on a cart or trolley instead of carrying them.

get someone to help you.

Man hurt himself because he is holding things too far from his body.

hold things too far from your body when lifting them

Man  holding a box close to himself before lifting it.

bring things close to you before you lift them.

Do not carry objects too far because you may hurt yourself or end up breaking something.

carry objects too far

Man uses a cart to carry four boxes. 

stop and rest for a moment when you get tired.

use carts to carry items.

If you hold too many small objects at the same time, you may end up dropping everything and you to get hurt by the broken glass.

Man holds a box of bottles.

put many smaller things in boxes that are easy to lift.

use carts to carry items.