A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 1, 1998
Grand champions, youth show. From left,Tammy Menke, Mercer Co. dairy prin
cess; Chris Hill, judge; Katie McKissick, reserve grand champion; Matthew Bean,
grand champion; and Kristen Morgan, Beaver/Lawrence dairy princess.
Junior champions. From left, Tammy Menke, Mercer Co. dairy printjess; Joa«ph
Parker, reserve junior champion; Heather Morrell, junior champion; Chris Hill, judge,
and Beckie Ruffaner, Armstrong Co. dairy princess.
Plum-Line Holstelns were premier breeder. From left, the Carey family: Beth, Ryan,
Patrick holding Patrick, Heather holding Courtney, and Michael.
Campbell Run Holsteins took premier exhibitor honors. From left, Jason Ruffaner,
Doug & Lindsay Beatty, David, Mark, Dona, Mark, Rachel, and Sarah Campbell, and
Kaltlyn Claypoole.
Northwest Cham
ionship Holstein Show Photo Report
' I k
MKk
Matthew Bean had the best bred and owned In both the
youth and open show.
Safe Lifting
And Back Strain
Dr. Dennis Murphy
Professor of Agricultural
and Biological Engineering
Penn State University
Back-breaking days filled with
strenuous lifting are all but his
tory in the poultry industry. Most
of this work is now performed by
forklifts, skid steers, conveyor
belts and automated feeding sys
tems. But instances do occur,
however infrequently, when work
ers need to physically lift heavy
loads in the poultry house. That is
why it’s a good idea for everyone
involved to familiarize themselves
with “safe” lifting techniques to
prevent back strain and absentee
ism caused by back injury.
Because lifting isn’t a regular
part of the job, poultry workers
can be more susceptible to muscle
strain and overexertion when lift
ing is necessary Often they are
also either unlamihar with propier
lifting techniques, or simply lift
and move items the quickest way
possible The proper method of
lilting objects—what’s known as
the “sate” lift —is to bend at your
knees, and, holding the load
firmly to your body, lift with
your legs, not your back
There are other times when us
ing the safe lifting technique is
impossible because the object is
either, located on a shelf or plat
form above you, too bulky, awk
wardly shaped, 01 in a hopper or a
crate on the floor. Following are a
few suggestions for lifting items
in these kinds of situations
Attempting to lift an object
that is on a shelf or platform
above your upper torso requires
that you use a step ladder or other
stable base to raise yourself so
you can hug the object to your
chest as you descend the ladder.
Use caution not to lift items
weighing more than around 30
pounds in this manner If it is
heavier than this, get someone to
help you lower the item to the
ground.
If an object is light enough to
lift safely, but it is too large or
bulky to see over as you carry it,
get a co-worker to help you, or
use a cart or wheelbarrow to move
it. Even the safest work area can
be dangerous if your vision is ob
structed.
Long items, such as boards,
poles, tubes or po*Kr can be awk
ward to carry as well. WWfffiaHft
ing and carrying these items, sup
port it on your shofllder instead of
holding close to your body Angle
the front end slightly upwards as
you carry it. Again, get a co
worker to help you if it is too
heavy or long If you have a
helper, make sure that both of you
carry the load on the same shoul
der, and stay “m step” while walk
ing so you don’t trip over each
other’s feet
Lifting objects from inside a
hopper, crate or other storage areas
on the floor/can often cause mus
cle strain because it’s not possible
to perform a correct “safe” lift
When you have to perform a lilt
like this, stand with your feel
about 18 inches apart, and bend at
the hip, not the waist, to lower
yourself down to the object. (This
is the same motion as lowering
yourself into a chair.) Pull the ob
ject tightly to your- body and
slowly stand using your leg and
hip muscles to lift the load. If you
can, Uy to rest your knees against
the side of the crate for leverage
and support
Perform the “safe” lift, or one
of these variations, whenever you
need to lift items during your
work. Never underestimate an ob
ject’s weight by lifting with your
back simply because it’s quicker
and easier to bend at your waist
than your knees. And take the
time to get a coworker to help
you lift large or awkward objects.
A few seconds saved today may
take a few months to heal tomor
row.