The Box15 Guide to lifting heavy items

When lifting heavy items such as furniture in and around the office, it’s important to use a safe lifting technique. Failure to do so could leave you with back trouble that lasts longer than the equipment or furniture itself.

In an ideal world, we’d avoid lifting heavy furniture altogether, but for those in small to medium-sized businesses, staff often have to get stuck in at every level – even when it comes to office move-arounds.

Fitting castors to the legs of desks, chairs and even furniture can remove a lot of the strain, but sometimes the weight being lifted doesn’t even have to be that great to cause unimaginable issues.

 How to lift heavy items correctly:

1. Dress for the occasion – Make sure you’re wearing comfortable clothing where you can bend properly. Ensure your footwear has an effective grip to avoid slipping.
2. Plan your lift. Ensure there are no trip hazards or items in your way. Can you rest your load partway through the lift?
3. Keep the load near to your body at waist height. Ensure the heaviest side of the load is nearest your body. Get as close as you can to the item to be lifted.
4. Place feet hip-width apart with one leg in front of the other. A broader base will give you maximum stability.
5. Get a strong grip to avoid the risk of dropping the item or having to jerk the item to improve your grip. It’s these drops, jerks, or sudden movements that are most likely to cause injury.
6. Bend only slightly at the back, with the majority of the pressure going through the hips and knees rather than fully stooping or bending. Once you’ve started the lift, be careful not to further flex your back.
7. Keep your shoulders level. Face the direction your hips are facing to avoid twisting which is also an injury risk.
8. Finally, never, never lift more than you can manage.

If you have any questions about any of our products, such as heavy duty castors, you can chat with our friendly advisors online.