When you’re moving home you’ll often have lots of heavy boxes to move. If you’re packing and lifting heavy boxes it’s important to know what you’re doing. Lifting heavy items the wrong way can cause serious injuries. Use this guide to prepare you for packing up your home.
Table of Contents
Common injuries to avoid
Injuries are common when moving heavy boxes, so it’s best to try and avoid them at all costs. Muscle injuries, spinal injuries, and hiatal hernias are all common injuries from lifting heavy items incorrectly. It is also likely that you will injure your shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and hips.
Lifting heavy items can also cause heart problems, as well as general exhaustion and fatigue. If you want to avoid all these problems, make sure you are lifting the boxes the correct way and always sticking to the safety procedures.
Use common sense
When moving heavy boxes it’s important to think practically. If you have to move them out to the truck you’ll need to make sure the passage to the door is clear. Make sure you remove anything obstructing the path and make sure there are no hazards in the road.Â
It’s also a good idea to secure any loose boxes with cables, especially if you’re trying to carry more than one at once. When you’re carrying multiple boxes make sure it’s still manageable and be careful as it is easy for boxes to slip off onto the ground.
Lifting heavy objects
When you’re lifting heavy boxes you must always ensure you’re using the safest possible methods. It’s very easy to injure yourself if you’re not doing the right thing. Keep your feet a shoulder’s length apart, make sure your back is straight, then bend from the knees and crouch down. Do not bend just using your back and hips. Grab the box tightly with both of your hands and then straighten up using your legs again.
Keep the box close to your body to make it easier to lift. While you are carrying it try to keep your back straight at all times. Move carefully while you’re holding the box and avoid twisting your body too much. Take it slowly and you’ll have the box safely out the door in no time.
Putting heavy objects down
When it comes time to put the boxes down again you’ll need to be just as careful. Lower yourself to the ground using your legs, ensuring you keep your back straight at all times. Hold the box close to you and place it down carefully. There is no need to rush and it is safer if you are patient.
Make sure that you don’t place the boxes right near the entrance as this will make carrying the remaining boxes out more difficult. Be careful stacking boxes on top of each other as well. While this may seem easier than placing each one on the ground, you don’t want to damage any of the goods inside.
Also Read: Top Tips for Choosing the Best Movers
