General Ergonomics Principles

Bending & Lifting

• Bend knees and keep back straight
• Lift by straightening the knees
• Use wide stance when lifting heavy items to give yourself a wider base of support

Carrying

• Carry items close to your body as opposed to carrying with your arms extended
• Hold items in front of you instead of on the hips or to the side of you
• Keep back straight and bend knees to place large objects down

Neutral Positions are the Safest

• As often as possible, keep joints in a neutral position to avoid pain
• At a desk, follow the 90-90-90 rule
  • 90 degrees at the knees, hips and elbows
• A common site of pain is in the wrist, especially for office workers, so try to keep it in a neutral position when typing and using a mouse

Respect Pain

• If you are feeling pain, that is your body telling you that it needs a break
• Sharp, stabbing, or shooting pain means you should change positions right away
• Aching pain means you need to stretch and move your body in the opposite direction