How To Lift Heavy Objects By Yourself

How To Lift Heavy Objects By Yourself

Every now and then, life puts us in a situation where we must lift heavy objects that weigh more than the human body could endure.

This leads to an endless list of potential injuries. Luckily, a correct way to handle weighty items exists, so we could harmlessly do our job or at least reduce the risk of trauma to a minimum. By following this proper lifting technique you can rearrange, clean or move house without any trouble.

How to lift heavy objects by yourself

With St Albans Removals easy guide you’ll know the proper way to lift heavy objects even when alone.

• Examine the item you’re about to move
  Size doesn’t mean everything. Take some time to check if the load is too heavy and look for comfortable pick up spots. The latter will significantly decrease the chance of you getting hurt. Is the object well balanced? If you’re lifting boxes, is there a risk of something falling off due to cracks or other weak spots? Don’t forget – there’s no shame in asking for help.
• Check your surroundings and choose a safe route
  Clear any obstacles that stand in your way to avoid tripping and be mindful of stairs and uneven floors.
• Get into position
  The key lies in preparation and, in our case – a proper stance. Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Keep your back straight, tighten your abdominal muscles, bend your knees, squat down to the floor and look straight ahead. If needed, put one knee on the floor and your other knee in front of you bent at a right angle (like a knight). Get a good grasp of the load with both hands and get ready for lifting.
• Lift & Carry
  Keep the item close to your body and use your leg muscles to stand up and lift the load off the floor. Your back should remain straight throughout the process. Use slow and smooth moves and do not twist your body when moving the object. Use your feet to change direction and take small steps. Lead with your hips as you change direction. As you move, keep your shoulders in line with your hips.
• Drop the load
  Once you have reached your destination and it’s time to put the object down, return to the squatting position, using only your leg muscles (not back). Keep your back straight, hold the item close to your body and set it down gently as you reach the ground (or another surface).

Note: Do not attempt to move a piano or objects of similar size alone. Items this big require at least 2 or 3 people. Often, only professional movers from a reliable removal company are able to move objects as heavy as this.

Proper posture when lifting weights

• Position the heavy object in front of your feet.
• Keep a wide base of support, having a distance of at least 50 cm between your feet. The closer they are to one another, the harder it gets to keep balance
• Squat properly to reach the object below. Keep your back straight by pushing your chest forward. Bend the knees but don’t extend them too forward
• Grip the heavy item firmly, without applying excessive amounts of force as that may cause slipperiness
• Keep your posture straight by looking forward, not below
• Keep your elbows as close as possible to your body
• Do not twist your waist when lifting an object
• Push with the legs, while keeping arms straight, only slightly bend in the elbows
• Do not bend your back, keep your chest up while lifting
• Constantly hold the heavy object as close to your body as possible
• Move slowly without bending backwards. If the weight is heavier it may cause you to fall backward
• When you are about to drop off the weight, start with the legs until you get into a squatting position, then slowly loosen your grip so the object touches the ground slowly at each end
• Do not drop it off from a distance or throw it down from a standing position