Back injuries are a common form of workplace injury. Improper lifting techniques are a leading cause of back injuries. Showing your employees the right way to lift loads is thus a key to preventing injuries. Here's how to create a form for doing that. There's also a model memo, written for an eighth-grade reading level, in the Tools section that you can access and use if you're a member of SafetyXChange.

3 Benefits of Memo

Creating a memo can do three things to help you:

Furnishes Easy-to-Read Lifting Instructions. Although you probably have training sessions showing employees the right way to lift, your message might get forgotten after the training ends. In addition, employees who don't normally lift heavy items and who don't get training might try to lift on the job. So it's a good idea to write up your instructions in a concise, easy-to-read document that you can pass out to all employees and/or post at the workplace.

Fosters a Safety Culture. A big part of building a safety culture is constantly reminding employees of the value you place on their protection. You also need to remind employees of the part they play in ensuring their own safety. Distributing and posting safe work practices, such as good lifting techniques, is a part of the effort to build awareness.

Demonstrates Compliance. OSHA and Canadian OHS laws require employers to take reasonable steps to protect employees against foreseeable hazards. The risk of back injuries due to improper lifting techniques is a classic example of a foreseeable hazard. So giving out and posting a memo demonstrating proper lifting techniques can help you meet your legal obligations. Just as importantly, it's a written record documenting your efforts to head off injury.

How to Create Memo

Like our Model Memo, your form should:

1. Warn Against Back Injuries

Explain that improper lifting can cause back injuries. Require each employee to follow the lifting instructions in the Memo and to ask their supervisor or safety director if they have any questions.

2. Tell Employees to Check their Carrying Route

Tell employees to plan their route before lifting and moving an object. Caution them to ensure that the route is clear of obstructions, free of tripping hazards, dry and level.

3. Tell Employee to Test the Load First

Objects might be too heavy for an employee to lift and carry by himself. So tell employees to test the weight of the item before trying to move it.

4. Describe the Proper Lifting Technique

Instruct employees to get as close as possible to the object they're lifting and keep their legs about shoulder-length apart, straddling the object if possible. Warn them not to lift low objects by bending at the waist with straight legs. Have them bend their knees and keep their upper body straight. Tell them to use their legs, not their backs, to provide strength and support when lifting objects.

5. Give Instructions for Lowering the Object

Tell employees how to put down the objects they lift. Remind them to bend at the knees, not the waist and to avoid twisting motions. If they must turn while lowering an object, tell them to adjust their feet, rather than twist their backs.

6. Tell Employees to Work Together

Caution employees to get help when they can't lift an object alone. Remind them to use clear commands when lifting together. Give them an example of a clear command, such as "Let's lift on the count of three."

ODD JOB

Unusual professions as listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's Dictionary of Occupational Titles:

FINGER WAVER

A person who offers personal beauty services. Duties may include assessing hair or skin conditions, testing for allergies to hair or skin products and applying chemical solutions to customer's hair or skin. As well as being familiar with numerous chemicals, a finger waver must also be adept with clippers, scissors, razors and blow-wave guns. Average salary: Between $13,000 and $35,250.

Story Tools:  E-mail this to a friend  Print This Post Top