Use Safe Moves when lifting

Supervisor tools

Use the Supervisor's role in back injury prevention for advice on preventing back injuries among employees including risks to watch for, training ideas and tools to use.

Use the Supervisor's strategies sheet to find ways to reduce lifting hazards in the workplace. It includes suggestions for more efficient material handling, workplace set-up and employee rotation.

Employee training tools

Give employees the Use Safe Moves when lifting handout to illustrate the four keys to safe lifting. It provides a step-by-step demonstration as well as a fun back safety quiz as motivation.

Use any or all of SFM's Safe Moves for lifting 5-Minute Solutions as mini training talks you can give to employees in less than five minutes.

Lift safely
Office ergonomics
Ergonomics — Working in a static position
Push/pull safety
Repetitive motion injuries — Office
Home health care — Housekeeping hazards
Home health care — Transferring or repositioning clients
Home health care — Overexertion and repetitive movements
Home health care — Dressing and bathing clients
Safe patient handling
Buildings and Grounds: Safe lifting, pushing and pulling
Food Service: Safe lifting and material handling

Supervisor Initiated Training (SIT) tools can be used to address specific hazards such as lifting safely. It helps supervisors think through the common risks in day-to-day activities and makes follow-up training easier. Check out the series:

Lift safely
Lifting students
Proper ergonomics for custodians
Proper ergonomics in storerooms
Proper ergonomics in food storage
Proper ergonomics for food prep
Proper ergonomics on the food line

Awareness tools

Use posters, table tents, envelope stuffers and email attachments to generate awareness among employees. There are four in the series. Switch them out regularly to keep them fresh.