have very little power and need the strength of the entire
hand. Keep your arms and elbows tucked in to the side
of your body to help keep the body weight centered.
Avoid twisting your body during the lift or while
moving the load; change directions by moving your
feet. Twisting your body during a lift is one of the most
common causes of back injury.
Be sure you have a clear vision over the load you
are carrying.
Don’t change your grip while carrying the load.
Face the spot where you intend to set the object;
bend your knees, keeping your back as straight as
possible and the weight of the object close to
your body.
Always allow enough room for the load to
prevent injury to your toes and fingers.
When you are placing a load on a table or bench,
set it on the edge and push it forward with your
arms and body.
Remember, if the load is too heavy or too
awkward for you to move alone, get help!
Remember, also lift with your legs, not with your
back!
SHIPYARDS AND DRY DOCKS
Sooner or later every ship in the Navy will enter a
shipyard or dry dock, usually during a predetermined
scheduled overhaul. At times, ships go into shipyards or
dry docks between overhauls for necessary repairs.
Shipyards and dry docks are dangerous places to
work. So much work is scheduled, normally in a limited
time frame, that safety is sometimes sacrificed for
expediency (speed doing the work). During these times,
look at what’s taking place around you. Notice things
like missing lifelines on deck (it’s a long way to the
bottom of a dry dock) and hatch or manhole covers
removed without warning barriers erected. Working
inside previously sealed compartments, voids, or tanks
can be extremely dangerous if the proper safety
precautions are not followed.
Often a lot of different evolutions are going on in a
confined space. Welding or cutting operations could and
often are conducted in the same small space as heavy
equipment removal and chipping and painting.
Sometimes all lighting in a compartment or
passageway may be removed for various reasons. That
presents several safety concerns. You may trip on
equipment or tools someone has left behind or bang
19-21
Student Notes:
Figure 19-4.—Lift using your legs, not your back.
