As this lifting job is a hazard, you have several solution alternatives. For more ideas, go to the Ergonomics Ideas Bank:

www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/KeepSafe/ReduceHazards/ErgoBank/

• Reduce weight of load

• Increase weight of load so that it requires mechanical assist

• Reduce the capacity of the container

• Use slides, gravity chutes to eliminate lifting

• Use mechanical assist such as overhead hoist, manipulator, vacuum lift, pneumatic balancer, forklift

• Reduce the horizontal distance of the load away from the body by removing barriers, obstacles that make access to the object difficult; or by reducing the size of the container

• Team lift the object with two or more workers

• Improve layout of work process so the need to move materials is minimized

• Provide handholds which increase lifting capability up to 15%

• Rotate workers to jobs with light or no manual handling

• Use mobile storage racks to avoid unnecessary loading and unloading

• Redesign workstation layout to eliminate trunk twisting by locating objects within arm’s reach

• Design workstation with adjustable heights to eliminate bent forward posture when lifting

• Eliminate the use of deep shelves that require a worker to bend and reach for objects.

• Store objects at 30" off the floor

• Provide rigid containers to better control the load

For more solutions to material handling refer to these sites on the web: