Question

Which of the following describes a safe lifting and carrying practice?

-Position your feet as far as possible from the load when you begin to lift.
-Lift by bending your legs and then straightening your legs, rather than by using your back.
-Twist your body when changing your direction of travel while carrying a heavy object.
-Bend forward to place a heavy object on a shelf or counter.

Answer 1

The correct lifting and carrying practice is to lift by bending and straightening the legs, not using the back, thereby reducing the risk of muscle strain and spine injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct option that describes a safe lifting and carrying practice is: Lift by bending your legs and then straightening your legs, rather than by using your back. This technique ensures that the forces involved are distributed more evenly across stronger muscles like those in the hips, knees, and ankles, rather than focusing stress on the weaker structures of the back. Additionally, keeping your back straight minimizes the force exerted on it, which would otherwise be about 5.6 times greater if lifting improperly with the back curved.

Remember, when carrying heavy objects, it's also essential to maintain a proper center of gravity (cg) as illustrated in figures where individuals adjust their stance to keep their overall cg above the base of support at their feet. Proper posture and careful lifting can prevent muscle strain and avoid damage to discs and vertebrae, which can occur due to the abnormally large forces created in the back muscles and spine when lifting incorrectly.