Ergo Tip of the Month
June 2006
Sandalwood Enterprises is a consulting firm that specializes in Ergonomics, Process Optimization,
and Information Management. The Ergo Tip of the Month is offered to our customers and friends for
the benefit of the Ergonomics community. If you choose not to receive future editions, contact us at
ergotip@sandalwood.com
Ergonomics at Home:
Don’t Let Spring Yard Work Ruin Your Summer Fun
With the arrival of the warmer spring weather also comes the arrival of
lawn and garden activities. To perform many of these tasks, excessive pushing/pulling, heavy lifting,
carrying, and exposure to vibrations is required. Typically at this time of year our bodies are not
accustomed to these activities and our risk of sustaining an injury such as muscle strain or low back pain
is increased.
Here are some helpful tips to prevent unwanted aches and pains:
Prior to beginning your yard or gardening work, warm up your muscles (i.e. Go for a 10 minute walk).
Stretching – make sure to take 10-15 minutes to stretch your muscles before and after doing work
(hand/wrists/forearms, low back, legs, etc.).
Ensure you are wearing proper gloves! Today's garden gloves feature high-tech materials and advanced
designs that can help to reduce hand fatigue and decrease vibrations while also protecting
the hand from cuts.
Do not attempt to do all of the work in the yard at one time. Take frequent breaks. Space your yard work
over several days or weekends to avoid fatiguing your muscles.
Use a kneeling pad or wear kneepads if you are working at ground level.
While shoveling, follow the basic principles of proper lifting:
- Keep the load close to your body.
- Keep your back in a neutral posture position.
- Use your legs to lift the load.
- Pivot your feet when you throw or place a load; don't twist your spine.
Keep clean, sharp, well oiled and maintained tools. Dull equipment requires more energy and force to operate.
When placing yard debris into bags or containers go onto one knee to place in the container rather
bending at the waist.
When raking, shoveling or weed trimming alternate between using your left and right hands.
Avoid carrying heavy loads; utilize a wheelbarrow (remember to bend at the knees), or 4-wheeled cart.
So now it’s time to dust off your yard and gardening equipment and start working on those projects that you
have been planning all winter. Don’t wait until the morning after when those “muscles you thought you never
had” are aching to realize that you should have taken it a little easier.
For more helpful ergo tips around the home, please see the February 2006 tip for Taking Ergonomics Home: The Kitchen.
Sandalwood will be presenting the Ergo 101 seminar in Novi, Michigan on June 27.
Click here for more details.
Click here for more Ergo Tips of the Month
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