Lifting, Pulling, Holding, & Handling Materials Solutions

Materials- changing the type of materials used may be the best option to reduce the amount of weight to carry and make a task less labor-intensive. For example, half-weight bags of Portland cement and lighter-weight concrete blocks are available and provide the same load strength as heavier versions. Pre-blended mortar and grout mixes reduce the need for workers to carry bags or shovel sand. However, these types of solutions require working with the engineer, building owner, or general contractor and are often not an employee-level decision.

Another solution may be to ask suppliers to put their materials in containers with proper handholds to reduce the necessity of awkward grips or pinched fingers.

Tools- there are many tools that are specially designed to carry heavy loads. These tools include:

• Dollies and hand trucks
• Buckets with padded handles
• Rolling carts for sheet materials, pipes, or conduit
• Stands or jacks to hold materials during installation
• Mechanical, hydraulic, or vacuum lifts
• Skid plates for moving loaded concrete hoses

Work Rules- employers can set weight limits for materials that workers can carry. The area and manner in which the materials are stored can also be changed to put the materials closer to the work space and at a convenient height off the ground. Planning ahead may minimize the frequency and distance that supplies have to be moved.

Training- workplace training programs that include demonstrating proper back posture while lifting, and the correct method to stretch and rest your muscles, have been proven very effective in reducing the amount of back injuries and muscle strains in the workplace.

To learn more about Construction Ergonomics visit our Construction Ergonomics Online Training web page.