Why should your feet be shoulder width apart when lifting?
Precautions you can take and legal obligations you must follow when requiring employees to engage in manual handling tasks Show
Any activity that requires an individual to lift, move or support a load is classified as a manual handling task. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 define it as 'any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or by bodily force'.
3. Good lifting techniqueFollow these basic principles of manual handling when dealing with basic manual handling tasks.
Chapter 3. Safe Patient Handling, Positioning, and Transfers Body mechanics involves the coordinated effort of muscles, bones, and the nervous system to maintain balance, posture, and alignment during moving, transferring, and positioning patients. Proper body mechanics allows individuals to carry out activities without excessive use of energy, and helps prevent injuries for patients and health care providers (Perry, Potter, & Ostendorf, 2014). Musculoskeletal InjuriesA musculoskeletal injury (MSI) is an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints or nerves, blood vessels, or related soft tissue including a sprain, strain, or inflammation related to a work injury. MSIs are the most common health hazard for health care providers (WorkSafeBC, 2013). Table 3.1 lists risk factors that contribute to an MSI.
When health care providers are exposed to ergonomic risk factors, they become fatigued and risk musculoskeletal imbalance. Additional exposure related to individual risk factors puts health care providers at increased risk for an MSI (WorkSafeBC, 2013). Preventing an MSI is achieved by understanding the elements of body mechanics, applying the principles of body mechanics to all work-related activities, understanding how to assess a patient’s ability to position or transfer, and learning safe handling transfers and positioning techniques. Elements of Body MechanicsBody movement requires coordinated muscle activity and neurological integration. It involves the basic elements of body alignment (posture), balance, and coordinated movement. Body alignment and posture bring body parts into position to promote optimal balance and body function. When the body is well aligned, whether standing, sitting, or lying, the strain on the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments is minimized (WorkSafeBC, 2013). Body alignment is achieved by placing one body part in line with another body part in a vertical or horizontal line. Correct alignment contributes to body balance and decreases strain on muscle-skeletal structures. Without this balance, the risk of falls and injuries increase. In the language of body mechanics, the centre of gravity is the centre of the weight of an object or person. A lower centre of gravity increases stability. This can be achieved by bending the knees and bringing the centre of gravity closer to the base of support, keeping the back straight. A wide base of support is the foundation for stability. A wide base of support is achieved by placing feet a comfortable, shoulder width distance apart. When a vertical line falls from the centre of gravity through the wide base of support, body balance is achieved. If the vertical line moves outside the base of support, the body will lose balance. The diagram in Figure 3.1 demonstrates (A) a well-aligned person whose balance is maintained and whose line of gravity falls within the base of support. Diagram (B) demonstrates how balance is not maintained when the line of gravity falls outside the base of support, and diagram (C) shows how balance is regained when the line of gravity falls within the base of support. Figure 3.1 Centre of gravityPrinciples of Body MechanicsTable 3.2 describes the principles of body mechanics that should be applied during all patient-handling activities. Table 3.2 Principles of Body Mechanics
Assistive DevicesAn assistive device is an object or piece of equipment designed to help a patient with activities of daily living, such as a walker, cane, gait belt, or mechanical lift (WorkSafeBC, 2006). Table 3.3 lists some assistive devices found in the hospital and community setting. Table 3.3 Assistive Devices
Video 3.1Special considerations:
Why should your feet be shoulder width apart when lifting prevents you from dropping the item helps you maintain balance keeps you from breaking the item?Keeping your legs at least shoulder-width apart with one foot slightly forward will help you maintain a strong position before lifting. Keeping your legs too close together will make you far more like to topple and lose your balance.
When standing Your feet should be shoulder width apart?Keep your feet about shoulder-width apart. Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of the body. Stand straight and tall with your shoulders pulled backward.
How far apart should your feet be to provide a wide base of support?A wide base of support is stable – spread the feet at or greater than shoulder-width apart – but keep in mind that having the feet in a scissor position, with one foot forward and one foot backward, also offers a wide base of support.
Where should you bend your body when lifting from the floor?Bend at your knees, not at your waist or back. Tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the object up or lower it down. Hold the object as close to your body as you can. Slowly lift, using your muscles in your hips and knees.
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