When lifting heavy equipment, a worker should

When lifting heavy equipment, a worker should

• A. Keep the back straight, bend the knees, and lift with the legs.
• B. Bend the knees slightly while keeping the back straight and lifting with the legs.
• C. Twist the torso while lifting.
• D. Jump to lift.

Answer: (B)

Safe manual lifting relies on using the legs, not the back, to lift heavy loads. By bending the knees and keeping the back straight, you create a strong, stable posture that uses the larger leg muscles to lift, rather than placing dangerous stress on the spine. Keeping the load close to your body minimizes the lever arm and reduces the strain on the lower back, which helps prevent injuries like muscle strains or herniated discs. Twisting the torso while lifting introduces rotational stress on the spine and can cause a loss of balance or a sudden injury. Jumping to lift is uncontrolled and can lead to slips or awkward landings. Lifting with the back puts disproportionate load on the spine and is a common source of back injuries. So, bending the knees slightly, keeping the back straight, and lifting with the legs while keeping the load close is the safest and most effective approach.

Safe manual lifting relies on using the legs, not the back, to lift heavy loads. By bending the knees and keeping the back straight, you create a strong, stable posture that uses the larger leg muscles to lift, rather than placing dangerous stress on the spine. Keeping the load close to your body minimizes the lever arm and reduces the strain on the lower back, which helps prevent injuries like muscle strains or herniated discs.

Twisting the torso while lifting introduces rotational stress on the spine and can cause a loss of balance or a sudden injury. Jumping to lift is uncontrolled and can lead to slips or awkward landings. Lifting with the back puts disproportionate load on the spine and is a common source of back injuries. So, bending the knees slightly, keeping the back straight, and lifting with the legs while keeping the load close is the safest and most effective approach.