Proper lifting and moving techniques

According to Zach Bruce, a representative for Hortica®, a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group, injuries from lifting or moving heavy objects are prevalent in the horticulture industry. 

“Any company out there may have to deal with [these types of injures],” Bruce says. “Lifting accidents, strains and sprains – often to the back – account for a great deal of the injuries within the horticulture industry. It’s definitely something that businesses should be looking at and training their employees on.”

How to train your employees

According to Bruce, proper lifting and moving training starts from the top and works its way down from garden center managers to a company’s base labor force. 

“If they see someone lifting improperly, they should be able to give some coaching,” Bruce says. “Or, maybe it’s something where a manger can suggest a piece of equipment to use instead of having an employee lift with their back.” 

Bruce says retailers should approach employees by having a training session. These could be as short as 5-10 minutes. There are also safe lifting training videos available online. He also recommends having signage around the garden center that demonstrates proper lifting techniques. 

“Some people have safety bulletin boards up,” Bruce says. “It can’t hurt to have that information readily available.”

What to do if an injury happens 

If an injury happens, an employer should know that, in most cases, they cannot be sued for negligence for injuries that occur as a result of lifting or moving heavy objects around the workspace.

Most of the workers’ compensation laws allow an employee to sue an employer if they can prove the actions causing injury rise to the level of “willful, wanton or intentional”. In most states an employee is limited to a worker’s compensation claim as the exclusive remedy.

That, though, does not mean the topic should be visited once and forgotten. Bruce recommends revisiting the topic as necessary and, if an injury occurs, use it as an excuse to re-teach proper lifting techniques. 

“It’s probably something you’ll have to talk about more than once,” Bruce says. “It’s not always as easy as saying it once and moving on.”

Photo: istockphoto.com

Hortica® property and casualty coverages are underwritten, and loss control services are provided, by Florists' Mutual Insurance Company and Florists' Insurance Company, members of the Sentry Insurance Group. For more information, visit hortica.com. Policies, coverages, benefits and discounts are not available in all states. See policy for complete coverage details.

This document is made available by Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively "SIAMCO") with the understanding that SIAMCO is not engaged in the practice of law, nor is it rendering legal advice. The information contained in this document is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity, nor the best practices applicable to any particular individual or entity. Legal obligations may vary by state and locality, and best practices are unique to specific items and situations. No one should act on the information contained in this document without advice from a local professional with relevant expertise.

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