Teaching safe lifting techniques to your child: A guide for parents

Parents, it’s time for The Talk. That’s right, the “how to lift safely at work” talk — a milestone every working teen must have. 

This post will explain why safe lifting matters for your teen and how to get the safety message through to them. It can also be used as a resource for how to safely lift yourself so you can pass the knowledge on.

Why safe lifting matters
A back injury can knock even the most physically fit teen out of the game for a while. If they are injured by lifting improperly, your teen will not only experience an injury, but also potentially miss out on social activities and for teens, FOMO can feel like the end of the world. 

The stats don’t lie. MSDs account for 38% of all WSIB claims in 2023, so you’re going to want to educate your teen about proper lifting techniques. And yes, it might be the last conversation they want to have but just remind them: safe lifting in the workplace will keep them healthy and active in other important aspects of their lives, like hanging out with their friends.

Motivating your child to care about safe lifting
If your teen is anything like the teens we know, they feel invincible. Hurting your back doesn’t seem like a big deal when you bounce back from other injuries instantaneously (or so it seems to us “older” folks). 

Getting your child to understand the benefits of safe lifting may feel like an uphill climb while carrying a heavy box. Here are a few methods you can use to get through to them: 

• Discuss potential consequences of improper lifting beyond injuries, like missed opportunities. Do they have a camping trip coming up? Or a party? Maybe a sports tournament? Remind them about the things they’ll miss out on can be an effective way to communicate the risks.
• Share real-life stories or statistics about workplace injuries caused by improper lifting.
• Incorporate it into the day-to-day: for example, when you’re out shopping and see someone carrying a ton of items, ask, “Does that look heavy? Does it look safe? How else could they move those boxes?”
• Use safe lifting techniques in the home and teach them to do the same.

If your child does injure themselves on the job with improper lifting techniques, encourage them to report it.

Safe lifting techniques

To lead by example, you first need to know how to lift properly. Here are the elements of a safe lifting technique: 

1. Ask for help, give help. If you need a hand, ask a co-worker. If they ask you for help, make sure you lend support. Two people are better than one when it comes to lifts!
2. Have a stable base of support and engage your legs and core.
3. Hold the heavy load close to your body.
4. Maintain the natural curve in the back; don’t slouch forward or lean backward.
5. Bend your knees!
6. Co-contract your stomach and back muscles at the same time.
7. Keep your shoulders back. (this will help you not slouch forward)
8. Stick your buttocks out.
9. Make sure you have a good grip on the object before lifting.
10. Use your thigh and buttock muscles to lift.
11. Breathe while you lift.

Alternative lifting techniques

Depending on the situation, an alternative lifting technique may be safer. Educate yourself and your child on techniques like the golfer's lift, the lunge lift, and the deadlift. These methods may be similar to weight-lifting exercises you or your child do in the gym. 

• The golfer’s lift - To understand the golfer’s lift, picture a golfer grabbing their ball from the putting green. This lift is used to grab small or light objects. Always hinge at the hips to protect your lower back.
• The lunge lift - Use the lunge lift for uneven or heavy loads like sacks or bags. This method lets you get close to the load and lift from underneath.
• The deadlift - Similar to a squat but with a flat, straight back, the deadlift can help give your lift power from your glutes, quads, and hamstrings.