Good principle’s of manual handling, enabled through training

How to Lift  Objects Safely:

1. Make sure you are standing directly in front of the item you wish to lift
2. Check if the item has handles which you could use
3. Know where you are taking the object before you begin
4. Position your feet evenly (shoulder width apart)
5. Keep your back straight and stand up tall
6. Tighten your stomach muscles
7. Squat to the floor by bending your knees- DO NOT move your upper body
8. Take hold of the object firmly with both hands
9. Distribute the weight evenly – make sure you are not unbalanced
10. Keeping the object close to your body, begin to stand up by straightening your legs (This will use your leg muscles and shouldn’t put strain on other areas)
11. Stand up slowly. Do not move quickly or jerk when doing this
12. You can now walk with the object(but be careful not to twist your body unnecessarily). Take small steps if possible.
13. If you are carrying a large object which restricts your view, ask if someone can guide you. This will prevent you from tripping or bumping into objects
14. When placing the item down, bend your legs
15. Remember to keep your back straight as you bend down again
16. Be careful to lower each side of the object to the floor separately- this will avoid trapping your fingers under the weight

About Bruche Associates Limited

Bruche Associates are an established Health & Safety and Continual Improvement Consultancy, which evolved out of the chemical and oil and gas industries. Bruche Associates Limited is a family run business overseen by Lee and Joanne Marsh who have over 35 years combined experience working in Healthcare Medical Services, Health & Safety Management and Training and Development. Lee qualified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1996 before moving into Health and Safety Management with ICI Paints. We work across a range of sectors from chemical manufacturing, engineering, trade & retail, and small & medium size businesses