Van hire: manual handling safety techniques you need to know
Are you hiring a van to move house or shift a load? Stay safe and strain-free with our manual handling tips.
Hiring a van generally means you've got something large or a lot of something small to lift and shift.
The technical term for physically lifting and moving objects is "manual handling". If you're moving house or conveying heavy objects, you're going to be doing an awful lot of it. That's why it's important to learn proper manual handling techniques before you start.
There's a high potential for pulled muscles and strained backs if you get things wrong. We've put together a few tips that can help keep you and your possessions safe.
PACKING
It's much easier to handle boxes that are sealed up and light enough to stack. This will also help you make the best use of your van space.
To succeed at this game of Van Tetris, it just takes a little planning.
Start sourcing your boxes as soon as possible
Supermarkets and discount stores are good providers of free packing boxes. You might need to make a few trips to different stores to get enough strong, clean, undamaged ones.
Pro tip: visit stores in the morning and explain to the duty manager what you're looking for. They can put boxes aside throughout the day for you to collect later. It will be easier to store them at home if you cut through the tape at the bottom and fold them flat.
Use a parcel tape gun
You can buy a pack of parcel tape with the tape gun for around £15 online.
It's worth the investment. Boxes that are securely taped are much safer to handle. A box that starts falling apart while you're lifting or carrying could cause you to twist and strain as you try to maintain your grip.
Be mindful as you pack
Try to evenly distribute the weight of the contents, keep the weight manageable and prevent objects from being able to move around inside. A box that is unexpectedly heavy, unbalanced or has movement inside is much harder to lift and can cause a back or abdominal muscle strain.
Label your boxes
It's a good idea to label each box with the room they're destined for. This is a simple matter of planning – if you know where something's going, you have less lifting and sorting to do at the other end.
It's also worth labelling boxes that are heavy or very light. This way, handlers know when they'll need an assisted lift – and no one risks overbalancing while they lift an unexpectedly light box.
USING ASSISTANCE
Here are a few things that can provide valuable assistance when lifting and carrying.
Consider a van with a tail lift
A tail lift is a huge help if you're moving heavy or bulky items. It means they can simply be wheeled on at ground level and then loaded.
Also, if you raise the tail lift to waist height, boxes can be placed on it without the need for bending.
At the end of the day, using a tail lift means doing less manual handling. This means less risk of back injuries, muscle strains and items being damaged while loading and unloading. Just remember to always keep hands, feet and clothing away from the ramp when operating.
Do you live in the northeast of England and need to hire a van with a tail lift? Give us a call on 0191 4888 700 or get in touch online and we'll sort you out.
Hire a sack truck
For anything heavy – or even to move multiple boxes – a sack truck is a game-changer. This helpful little tool will help protect your back and significantly lighten your workload. There are even ones designed to go up flights of stairs.
It takes a bit of getting used to – but with a little practice, you'll be all set. Simply use the plate for leverage when lifting, and then – when the object is secured – wheel it to the van and use the tail lift to load it. Bungee cords are useful to prevent things from sliding off.
Still unsure? There are lots of training videos online that will teach you to use a sack truck safely.
You can find a sack truck at a local hire firm – or, if you're lucky, you might be able to borrow one from a friend.
Have a team of helpers
Accept offers of help from family and friends. Having more hands will let you use the chain method to load from house to van, reducing fatigue.
It also means people can work together to lift heavy items. This helps minimise the risk of injury from straining and the risk of breakages from dropping.
LIFTING AND CARRYING
Many of us have heard the advice, "Bend your knees, not your back" – but there's a little more to it than that. Here are some helpful reminders for a safe lifting and carrying technique.
Test the weight
Before attempting to lift anything, always test the weight and get assistance if needed.
Lift with the heaviest end against your body
If the box is unbalanced, lift with the heavier end towards you.
Do not lean over to lift
If you do this, you'll put too much strain on your back for the lift and risk injury.
Use your quads
The power to lift should come from the quadricep muscles in your upper legs.
To use them efficiently, half squat close to the box and line up with it centrally. Next, lean forward slightly and get a firm grip on the box, ready to hug it to your body. When you've got a comfortable grip, push up with your legs and hug the box at the same time.
Keep your back as straight as you can. Don't push up until your grip is firm.
Carry at your waist
You should keep the box hugged against your waist for stability. However, if you feel fatigued or start to lose your grip, find somewhere at waist height to lean it against. This will allow you to reposition your grip or call for assistance.
Don't twist – turn with your feet instead
Do you need to place the box in the van or hand it to someone else? Use your feet to position yourself rather than twisting around or leaning to the side.
Keep looking ahead
Once you set off, resist the urge to look at what you're carrying. Keep looking up so you can avoid obstacles or trip hazards.
Have regular tea breaks
Encourage everyone to take regular short rests so tired muscles can recover. Fatigued muscles are more easily strained (and a cup of tea is always welcome).
We hope these tips help you enjoy a stress-free and strain-free moving day. Need to hire a van in Gateshead, Sunderland or Newcastle upon Tyne? Here at MVH Rental, we're famous for our friendly service and affordable prices. To get started, give us a call on 0191 4888 700 or browse our vans online.
