ABSTRACT
Products should facilitate safe lifting and inform users about safe lifting techniques. People often incur musculoskeletal injuries when trying to lift something that is too heavy— in fact, lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of injury in the workplace. Injuries, such as to the spine, can be quite serious and lead to permanent disability. People have an easier time lifting heavy items that are in the so-called power zone, which is between the middle of a person’s thighs and chest and close to the body. Designers should aim to develop solutions that eliminate the need for lifting altogether, such as patient lifts that hoist patients out of their bed in hospitals and nursing homes. Product designers and manufacturers can help prevent lifting injuries by encouraging safe lifting in several ways: determining the potential for a harmful lift.
