How to avoid injuries when moving
Aside from mental and emotional stress, moving can take a physical toll on you. From packing your belongings to lifting heavy boxes, moving requires lots of lifting, squatting, and pushing, all of which if not done properly can cause physical injury to yourself and others. To avoid injury and prevent damage to your items, read our tips below on how to avoid injuries when moving.
- Pace yourself. Lifting and carrying slowly is the safest for you and your furniture. Rushing may cause you to damage a piece of furniture or cause injury to yourself and others.
- Preparing your body for heavy lifting is important to prevent injury. Do some light stretching exercises to relax your muscles and get them ready for the heavy lifting.
- Moving will require you to do a lot of lifting, whether heavy or light items, be sure to always lift with your legs! Lifting with your back can significantly strain your muscles and tendons. To properly lift with your legs, spread your legs about hip width apart, bend your knee and keep your back straight before lifting.
- Make sure you’ve got a first aid kit handy and available to use at any given moment. Even when you are extremely careful, the smallest accidents that require something as simple as a Band-Aid can still happen. It’s better to be prepared than carry on with the entire move with an exposed cut. No matter how small, it can still get infected!
- Don’t over-stuff the boxes; this will make them too heavy to handle properly. Over packing the boxes can significantly jeopardize its structure as well, exposing the items inside to the elements. Potentially causing injury to yourself and damaging items inside.
- Moving requires a lot of physical work. Therefore you must wear proper clothing to safely and successfully execute the move. Wear comfortable clothing that is not too loose, as baggy clothing is at risk of getting caught on boxes and moving equipment. Be sure to also avoid wearing open-toed shoes. Wear closed footwear to better protect your feet.
- Take necessary breaks to give your body rest and re-fuel. Be sure to drink plenty of water to ensure you body stays hydrated. Eat a healthy meal before beginning the move and take snack breaks throughout to avoid feeling hungry or light-headed.
- Check both, current location and destination for any potential property damages that may pose a threat during the move. You and your team will want to be aware of any uneven sidewalk, walkway areas, and steps. It is important to ensure that these areas leading to your home are safe and not slippery.
- Do not attempt to move items that even professional movers will not move. These include flammable items like matchboxes, paint thinners, aerosol cans and other hazardous items.
- Having the proper moving equipment is a must when moving home or office. When you hire professional movers they will have all the necessary tools and equipment to make your move go as quickly and smoothly as possible. If you decide to perform the move you will need to rent and moving equipment to help make your move easier and certainly a lot safer.