Introduction to Ergonomics

Oregon OSHA Course #201

This material is for training purposes only. Its purpose is to inform Oregon employers of best practices in occupational safety and health and general Oregon OSHA compliance requirements. This material is not a substitute for any provision of the Oregon Safety Employment Act or any standards issued by Oregon OSHA. For more information on this online course and other OR-OSHA online training, visit the Online Course Catalog.

Effective Lifting Techniques

• Do not exceed the physical ability of the worker.
• Provide adequate recovery time for tasks that require frequent lifting.
• Provide easy access so the load is in front of the person lifting.
• Eliminate twisting by changing the start or end point of the lift.
• Put items to be lifted between knee and shoulder height.
• Provide handles or cutouts to make grasping easier, permit a closer lift, and allow items to be carried near the body.
• Change an object's shape to make it easier to grasp.
• Decrease the weight of the object.
• Decrease the distance or height over which the object must be moved.
• Distribute a load evenly within a container.
• use hand carts or hand trucks.
• Use a vacuum-assisted hoist or integrated conveyors.
• Use loaders, cranes and motorized material pallets to help move load that are larger or heavier than one or two people can safely handle.