Moving can be stressful, and getting hurt along the way never helps! Unfortunately, injuries can be all too common during the moving process. Here’s a look at some typical moving day injuries and what you can do to prevent them.
Lift With Care
Lifting incorrectly is a leading cause of moving-day injuries. From back strains to pulled muscles, lifting injuries can severely impact your health and your ability to complete your move without pain.
The keys to proper lifting are to keep your joints aligned, recruit your strongest muscles, and get help if something is too heavy to lift on your own. In practice, this means:
- Keep your back straight
- Fold at the hips rather than bending at the waist
- Bend your knees and lift with your legs (not your arms or back)
- Turn your feet if you need to pivot rather than twisting your back, hips, or knees
It’s also important to start as close to the object you’re lifting as possible and keep it close to you throughout the lift. The further away it is, the harder it will be to pick up.
If something is too heavy to lift safely, ask others for help. You can also use a dolly (a 4-wheeled platform cart) or a hand truck (a tall, 2-wheeled L-shaped device) to bear the brunt of the weight. Adapting your approach when necessary helps prevent injury or unnecessary fatigue.
Maximize Safety with Moving Tools
Moving involves more than just picking up boxes and carrying them from one place to another. You often need to move furniture, mattresses, appliances, and more.
Specialized moving equipment and tools help protect your belongings and prevent injuries from slips, falls, strains, and sprains. These benefits make them well worth the investment!
In addition to simple machines such as dollies and hand trucks, a range of items is available to minimize physical effort and maximize safety. These include:
Lifting Straps:
- Worn around your shoulders or forearms to help lift heavy or unwieldy items without having to grip them solely by hand
Ratchet Straps:
- Used to tightly secure items to a dolly or hand truck for safe transport
Furniture Sliders:
- Help you safely slide furniture across a floor without causing damage
- Reduce the need to lift and carry heavy or awkward furniture items
Gloves and Proper Footwear:
- Work gloves help protect your hands and provide extra grip
- Closed-toed shoes with non-slip soles protect your feet and prevent injuries
Using moving equipment, gloves, and safe footwear helps protect your body from immediate injury and cumulative strain. The next time you move, take advantage of these tools—your body will thank you!
Plan Routes and Keep Them Clear
Most people have seen movies or TV shows in which two or more people try to move a large item. Inevitably, they get confused about who is going where or what path they’re taking, and hilarity ensues.
While it can be funny to watch fictional characters struggle and argue about how to move a couch, it’s not fun to be in that situation in real life. It’s all too easy to end up with a bashed finger, a smashed toe, or a more serious injury when heavy furniture is involved.
You can avoid these potential injuries by planning your route when moving furniture, heavy appliances, or other large items. Even if you’re transporting something yourself with a handcart or dolly, knowing where you’re going and what obstacles you’ll encounter will make the process smoother and safer.
Additionally, you should keep your chosen route clear. Before you start, ensure you have an unobstructed path and that others know it must remain clear. That way, you’ll avoid unexpected bumps in the road, and you’ll be able to get things from point A to point B without incident.
Whether you’re moving everything yourself or just rearranging items in your new space, these tips can help prevent unnecessary injuries. Take care of yourself along the way, and your move will go smoother from start to finish.
When you need professional moving help in Burlington or the region, call Chase Moving and Storage for top-notch moving services you can count on. For over 100 years, we’ve been helping individuals, families, and businesses move across town and across the country—and everywhere in between. Our family-owned company provides personalized customer service and a wealth of experience to make your next move a success. Chase Moving and Storage—THE MOST TRUSTED MOVERS SINCE 1908.
