Introduction to Materials Handling
Body mechanics first
Most construction injuries are strains from lifting and carrying. Plan the lift: check the weight, clear the path, and decide whether you need help or a mechanical aid before you bend down. For a manual lift, stand close to the load, keep feet shoulder-width, bend at the knees and hips, keep the back straight, grip firmly, and lift smoothly with the legs while keeping the load close to the body. Do not twist while loaded - pivot with your feet. To set down, reverse the sequence and watch your fingers.
When to get help or a machine
A common rule of thumb is that anything approaching 50 pounds should be a team lift or a mechanical lift; always follow your employer's stated limit, which may be lower. Two-person lifts need one person calling the count. Mechanical aids include hand trucks, dollies, pallet jacks, wheelbarrows, conveyors, and cranes or hoists for heavy loads. Load a hand truck with the weight over the axle, tip it back, and push rather than pull. Never exceed the rated capacity of a pallet jack, cart, or sling, and never walk under a suspended load.
Storage and housekeeping
Stack materials on stable, level surfaces at a safe height, keep heavier items low, and leave aisles and exits clear. Store materials off the ground to prevent water damage, keep chemicals in labeled original containers with the SDS available, and secure pipe and round stock so it cannot roll. Poor housekeeping is a leading cause of trips and falls.
Traps
Questions describe a lift and ask what is wrong - usually twisting, lifting with the back, holding the load away from the body, or exceeding a load limit.