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If You Want to Move Remember to Be Safe!

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The moving process can be emotionally and physically taxing – whether you are moving across the country or town.  Sustaining an injury just throws a wrench into the process, not to mention tons more stress.  Make sure you use caution and common sense when you are moving.  Follow these tips and hopefully you can make it through the day unscathed!

What are you putting in that box?

When you pack a box, keep the total weight to less than 50 pounds.  If you aren’t sure if it is too heavy, try picking it up.  You should be able to lift it without too much strain.  As you transport boxes, you need to feel steady on your feet.  If you are struggling with the weight of a table, remove a few items to make it easier to move.

Read: How to Prevent Yourself from Injuries when Moving

As you pack, keep in mind the spaces you will need to traverse.  You might possibly have to go up and downstairs.  No matter how close you are able to park the truck, you’ll still probably have to cover a significant amount of ground.  And don’t forget, there will be two houses involved in the process.  Pack boxes that won’t make the navigation of these locations more difficult.  Big bulky boxes will be cumbersome in tight hallways and difficult to see around.  Super small boxes will mean more trips up and down the stairs.  Don’t increase the likelihood of accidents!

Make sure you have proper moving equipment.

If you have a dolly available on moving day, you won’t be as tempted to carry items that are too heavy.  Avoid back strain when possible!

It might not seem dangerous

You may have walked over that uneven spot in the sidewalk a million times without incident, but come moving day; it becomes a hazard.  People who are unfamiliar with your house or distracted by the moving process can stumble on the most innocent-looking items.  Before the big day, move or mark anything that could potentially be dangerous.

  • Mark any steps or uneven spots in the pavement with chalk.
  • Check with the moving company (or local rental store) for traction mats if rain is in the forecast.  The entryway of your home can become slippery when wet.
  • Use brightly colored strips of fabric to mark posts, poles, or branches.
  • Look for hanging obstacles or ground-level protrusions.  Remove the movable objects and mark the immovable ones.

Showtime!

So the big day has finally arrived!  Make sure you are ready for it!

Choose clothing that doesn’t have loose sleeves or shirttails that could get snagged.  Use durable, supportive footwear.  Consider using hiking or work boots that will support your ankles.  Also, make sure family and friends who are helping you are dress appropriately too.  You may think it goes without saying, but people helping with the moving process shouldn’t be wearing open-toed shoes!

To avoid collisions, make sure all the movers have an assigned job.  You don’t want people aimlessly wandering about, getting in the way of traffic.  Consider using an assembly line to transport items to the truck.  One or two people can remain in the car to load items as they are delivered.

For items that require two or more people, always make sure there is one extra person present.  The additional person can help keep everyone safe by pointing out the hazard-free route.  Also, having an extra hand close by ensures everyone’s safety if an item starts to slip.

In a perfect world, children would be far far away from the moving process.  There are way too many ways a child could get hurt – getting caught in a stampede, wandering off when adults are distracted, and so much more.

Likewise, pets should be kept safe too.  Consider locking them up in an empty room or boarding them with a friend.

Make sure everyone takes plenty of breaks throughout the day.  Provide ample food and water.  You may want to schedule group-wide breaks so as to assure everyone gets plenty of liquids.  The workaholics may not want to stop otherwise!

You may do everything possible to prevent moving day injuries, but the reality is something probably will go wrong.  So, don’t pack away the emergency kit; make sure it is always accessible.  And you’ve probably heard this a million times before, but never bend over to pick up an item!  Squat down and lift with your legs!