How to Reduce the Risk of Injury When Moving
Having an accident-free relocation should be a top priority, and our tips will help you prepare for moving without injuries. Seeking professional assistance is always the easiest way to guarantee yourself a safe move. Movers are trained for safe moving and equipped with the necessary tools for lifting and carrying heavy items. When you hire full-service movers, they’ll take care of packing, loading, and unloading heavy boxes and other household items, so you will not risk any injuries. But if you prefer DIY moving, there are some things you can do to prevent injuries. Proper lifting techniques, moving equipment, and other strategies listed in the following text are necessary for having a safe relocation. Carry on reading to learn how to reduce the risk of injury when moving.
Find helpers
The first thing you’ll need to help you avoid injuries when moving is several helping hands. While making a plan or a moving checklist, include finding help and make it a top priority. Packing and loading the entire household by yourself is a sure way to get injured, so don’t try to avoid getting helpers. Those could be a few of your close friends or family. If they’re not able to help, you can also hire moving labor and get help for as many hours as you need. A professional crew will help you perform any moving-related task and they usually charge by the hour.
Only use boxes in good shape and sturdy enough
If you decide to save some money on moving supplies and get boxes that are used, you may increase the chance of getting hurt. If the moving box is not sturdy enough, it may break while you’re carrying it and all the content may end up on your feet. It’s not a problem if the box is packed with bedding and soft goods. But imagine a box filled with heavy household items breaking and you’ll get the idea of how important it is to only use sturdy boxes if you want to avoid injuries.
Don’t overpack
Even though you want to pack as much as possible into one box and fill it all the way up, make sure not to overpack and make the box too heavy. Not only it can break, but it can also lead to serious back injuries. Before lifting, check how heavy the box is by tilting it gently. If it feels like it’s too heavy, ask for help or separate its content into two boxes to make it lighter and easier to lift and carry.
Use moving equipment
There’s a reason why all professional movers use proper moving equipment. You should take their advice and do the same to lower the chances of getting hurt while moving. One of the best tools you can use is the moving dolly. It will allow you to push the heavy item instead of carrying it and potentially getting injured. You don’t have to overspend and buy a dolly. Just reach out to your local movers and rent a moving dolly from them.
Lifting techniques
Another important tip for moving without injuries is using proper lifting techniques. To make sure lifting and carrying are accident-free, always lift with the help of your legs, not your back. That means you should bend your knees keeping the back straight and use the strength of your leg muscles to lift the box. Keep the box close to your chest and slowly get up. Don’t rush while you’re carrying a box. Take one step at a time, making sure that there’re no obstructions on your way. Never lift boxes above your head and if you have to turn while you’re holding a box, turn the entire body instead of only turning the upper half. In case you need to move a heavy object without lifting, never pull but always push it to avoid back injuries.
Clear the path
Another thing to do in order to have an accident-free move is to make sure there are no obstructions on your way. Make sure that path from the house to the moving truck is clear and make enough space to comfortably lift and carry the box. Besides moving pieces of furniture and house décor, you can also stack the boxes vertically. That way, you’ll have more space for movement and make it easier to get the box.
Keep your kids and pets away on a moving day
Once the moving day comes, there will be a lot going on with boxes all around and helpers going in and out of the house carrying things, so having to look after your kids and pets will be extremely difficult and distracting. The best thing to do is to ask a family member to take care of them for the day so you can focus on moving tasks without interruptions.
Wear proper clothing
The next thing that will help you avoid injuries while moving is proper clothing and footwear. Skip the tight jeans and fancy shoes and go for comfy sneakers and clothes that will allow for movement. Don’t wear clothes that are too baggy or too tight. Closed-toe shoes are a must. Otherwise, you’re risking foot injury in case something drops on your feet. Also, use protective gloves. Gloves will make it easier for you to grasp the box and provide extra protection for your hands.
Get a first aid kit
Even with the utmost care and thoughtful planning, accidents can happen anytime. Make sure to get a first aid kit and keep it near just in case.
Hire professional movers
Sometimes relocation can be too much to handle alone. Hiring experienced movers NYC may be the best way to avoid injuries when moving. If you prefer not to risk any injuries, Rabbit Movers will complete all moving-related tasks in the safest way possible. Contact us today and get a free moving quote.