Special Lifting Situations Require Special Training

Aside from teaching employees the basic safe lifting technique, you may also need to train for special lifting situations such as:

• Group lifts
• Lifting oversized or particularly heavy loads
• Lifting bags and sacks
• Lifting object down from overhead

Group Lifts

When two or more employees lift and carry objects together, they should:

• Work as a team.
• Designate one person to direct the lift.
• Lift at the same time.
• Keep the load level when carrying.
• Keep alert for obstacles in their path.
• Move smoothly together.
• Unload at the same time.

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Lifting Oversized or Heavy Loads

Lifting oversized or very heavy loads requires special steps as well. Lifters should:

• Size up the load and determine how many people will be needed for the lift.
• Use mechanical material handling aids whenever possible to spare backs.
• Check the route and make sure there is adequate clearance for oversize loads.
• Lift at the same time, and keep the load level  when carrying.
• Put the load down part way to rest if necessary.
• Be careful when traveling and unloading not to catch fingers and hands in pinchpoints, such as between the object and a doorjamb or wall, or between the object and the surface onto which it’s being unloaded.

Lifting Bags and Sacks

Heavy bags and sacks can be awkward to handle, which increases the risk of injury. Teach employees to:

• Assume the safe lifting position (squat by bending at the hips and knees, feet shoulder-width apart; maintain the back’s natural curves; and let the legs do the lifting).
• Grasp the load at opposite top and bottom corners.
• Power the body up with legs and use arms to raise the load to rest on the hip.
• Stand fully and move the load to rest on the shoulder.

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Lifting Objects Down from Overhead

Lifting objects down is an other special lifting situation. Train employees to:

• Use a ladder or step stool if necessary to reach high places.
• Slide the load close to the body, being sure to keep a solid footing and a firm grasp.
• Let arms and legs do the work.
• Have a buddy standing below to receive the object if necessary.

Train to Prevent Injuries

Whether you’re looking for training on safe lifting or one of over 60 other safety and health topics, the place to look first is BLR’s Employee Training Center.

Unlike many training solutions available on the market today, the Employee Training Center courses are routinely reviewed and updated to reflect changes in federal regulations or best practices. Each training course is developed by BLR lawyers, industry experts, and instructional designers who have experience across a wealth of industries, topics, and compliance areas.

Courses keep participants interested with engaging audio, built-in exercises, and key points to remember. At the completion of every course, individuals take a quiz designed to test for competency in all the course material presented. Quiz results and course completion times are automatically recorded.

Every course can be tailored with supporting and custom documents. BLR provides supporting documents for courses that include complete slide show notes and the answer key for the included quiz. As the administrator, you have the option of displaying uploaded documents and requiring review before the session begins. This is especially useful for company policies or worksite-specific information. Supporting materials can be added, edited, or removed at any time.

With only a few minutes’ setup, you company will have a complete Web-based training program with professionally developed courses, employee testing capabilities, and systematic documentation of employee training sessions and scores. And remember, BLR Employee Training Center courses can be delivered at individual employee desks, in computer centers, at training kiosks, or even in a classroom.

No wonder BLR Employee Training Center was named "Best Workforce Training Solution" by the Software Information Industry Association. It can help you launch a cost-effective and successful employee training program.

We urge you to sign up for a no-obligation demo by visiting the award-winning Employee Training Center. Or, feel free to call our customer service people toll-free at 866-696-4827.

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