Over the years, the rise in demand for finished products has exceeded the number of factories responsible for their production. This has subsequently led to the creation of numerous employment opportunities. In case you are one of the lucky ones about to work in such a place for the first time, lifting loads is likely to be something you'll be doing on a daily basis, especially if you'll be in the packing and moving section. To ensure maximum safety, you should acquaint yourself with some of the following load handling techniques.  

Choose the right lifting equipment

There are different types of lifting equipment out there. These include cranes, forklifts, simple lifts, complex lifts, and so on. What's important is knowing which one to use and at what time. This depends on the load capacity, speed, and frequency under which you are going to use the machine. For example, if you need a medium weight load moved faster from one point to another all the time, a fork lift would indeed be preferable to a crane. However, for very heavy delicate loads a crane would be better. Choosing the right equipment would put less strain on your machine and also improve your work efficiency.

Safety of lifting equipment

In every factory, safety is paramount. Before you even begin lifting or moving that load, you need to ask yourself how safe the machine you are using is. Always ensure that your equipment is well lubricated and serviced. Other than that, it's always easy to forget about the lifting accessories such as chain slings, fibre slings, and wire rope slings. Sometimes, these can cause very serious injuries if left unchecked, because they are the ones that attach the lifting parts to the main machine. To avoid any unwanted incidents, check them regularly to ascertain that they are well fitted and replace any worn out ones.

Adopt smart lifting techniques

Smart lifting techniques refer to the best methods of lifting loads without causing strain to your body and is based on load assessment, body, and load positioning.  For instance, it is always better to push than to pull. Pushing allows you to use larger muscle tissues, hence you'll strain less and avoid minor injuries. Other than that, always keep the load within your power zone and maintain a neutral posture. This is the zone between your mid-thigh and mid-chest area where your arms and back can lift more weight with minimum effort.