LIFT WITH CARE
Page 64
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In Handling of Bulky or Heavy Objects Six Basic Principles Must be Observed
THE human body can be regarded as a hydraulic machine of extraordinary complexity and brilliance of design. For its weight and overall dimensions, it will perform the most astonishing range of tasks and it will give first-class service when properly maintained for upwards of half a century. When overworked it shows an inbuilt tolerance far superior to that of a machine tool, and it possesses a happy knack of compensating for its own deficiencies.
Nevertheless, if it is subjected to a strain that it was never intended to support, it will give trouble. Some such strains are caused by exterior forces, such as arise in a motoring accident or war. Others are self-inflicted by the individual, in the home, at work or in games. Injuries of the latter kind are so numerous as to be almost impossible to enumerate, but certainly they account for millions of lost man-hours annually. Frequently they have an indefinite character, afflicting the patient months or years after the prime injury was sustained.
Painful conditions of this type include muscular strains, ruptures, backache, fibrositis, rheumatism, fatigue and the fashionable slipped disc. All these things remove the zest from living and in most cases their causes are avoidable. Hospitals and clinics have more than their fair share of patients suffering from strain and muscular malfunctions, many of which are not curable in a week.
Unhappily, road transport men are by no means immune to these strains, possibly because in the normal way, a driver is not required to lift heavy weights. And when he is, lack of familiarity with the problem leaves him wide open to doing himself an injury.
The volume of troubles directly caused by inefficient weight-lifting is so great today that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents finds it worthwhile to sponsor an annual cam-. paign to point out the dangers and to indicate the ways in which strains can be avoided. In conjunction with Mr. T. McClurg Anderson, of the Institute of Human Kinetics, they have produced a mass of material for distribution in the home and factories. Posters, booklets, leaflets, even beer mats and paper napkins for use in the works canteen, are all available from Ro.S.P.A. at Terminal House, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.1. Last year, the publicity centred on the theme, "Correct Handling Eases Effort "—and so it does.
To achieve smooth and easy handl
ing of all bulky or heavy objects there are six basic principles which should be learned and put into practice. All are essential, none more important than others, and none demands the highly developed muscles of the professional weightlifter, First, get a good grip on the job. Use the palms and the roots of the fingers and thumb. It takes twice the effort to hold a load with the finger tips and their muscles are too small and sensitive to handle anything but the lightest weights.
Back Straight
Next, keep the back straight and lift with the powerful leg muscles, relaxing the knees. A straight back prevents damage to the dorsal muscles which were never intended to do heavy work. If the load has to be hoisted, raise the top of the head slightly and tuck the chin in. This movement helps to maintain a straight back.
Balance is important, too, and it is the position of the feet that determines its effectiveness. Stand with the feet apart, but no wider than the hips, with one foot forward in the direction you intend to take.
The arms should be held close to the body, which then takes the weighi instead of the finger, wrist, arm and shoulder muscles.
Finally, use the body as a counter. weight, keeping one foot back to prevent over-balancing.
These six rules, applied smoothly without jerk or snatch, give one till power to deal with all the loads tha the human frame is intended to handle For anything heavier, it is a wise mar who sends for his mate, finds a rolle or lever, or demands the assistance o a fork-lift truck.