Just The Two Of Us
By Kelly Treviño, MS, LAT, ATC
Hero lifts usually start with good intentions. Someone wants to get the job done, keep things moving, or avoid slowing the team down. But when a load is heavy, bulky, or awkward, going it alone is often where risk creeps in. That’s where buddy lifting fits squarely into this month’s Teamwork Prevents Hero Lifts theme.
According to the CDC and NIOSH, over half a million musculoskeletal injuries are reported each year in the U.S., with a significant portion linked to manual material handling tasks like lifting, carrying, and lowering materials. Maintaining ideal posture and mechanics becomes more difficult as load size and weight increase. Proper ergonomic interventions, including buddy lifting, help reduce the physical demands placed on the body and lower the risk of injury.
Share The Load, Mr. Frodo
Buddy lifting is the practice of using two or more people to share the load when moving material. Research shows that sharing a load reduces overall stress on the body and decreases the amount of muscle activity required during the lift, making the task safer and more controlled.
Beyond the physical benefits, buddy lifting also reinforces a strong safety culture. Asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s an acknowledgment that some tasks are better handled as a team, especially when they exceed individual limits or company policy guidelines.
The Same Book. The Same Page.
When performing a buddy lift, it’s important to talk through the plan first so everyone is on the same page. A pre-lift discussion helps establish how the lift will be performed and can identify potential hazards. These hazards may include the path of travel, the destination, or the material itself, such as uneven weight distribution or awkward grip points.
Clear communication is essential. Establish signals or specific wording before starting the lift so each person knows when to lift, move, pause, or lower the load. Communication should continue throughout the lift to maintain coordination and balance.
Assigning roles or specific positions can also help distribute the weight of the object more evenly, especially when handling larger or bulky items. Taking the time to plan and communicate reduces confusion during the lift and supports safer, more controlled movement.
Pivot! Pivot!
During a buddy lift, each person should perform proper lifting mechanics by bending the knees, hinging at the hips, keeping a neutral spine, engaging the core, lining up with the task, and keeping the load close to the body. Assigning roles or specific positions helps balance the weight of the object, especially when handling large or awkward materials. For repeated or prolonged lifts, rotate responsibilities when possible to reduce fatigue and maintain awareness.
Buddy lifting should not replace mechanical or engineering controls already in place. If equipment is available to assist with a lift, use it!
Teamwork Prevents
The takeaway is simple. Not every lift is meant to be a solo effort. Knowing when to pause, ask for help, and lift together is one of the most effective ways to prevent hero lifts and the injuries that follow. When it comes to injury prevention, teamwork matters.
Kelly Treviño, MS, LAT, ATC || Kelly has been practicing athletic training since 2018. She currently lives in Rio Rancho, NM with her wife, Shelby, and two dogs, Harvey and Storm. In her free time she enjoys Legos, working out, and going for rides on her motorcycle.
Be sure to check out our other blogs for further injury prevention education and tips for the industrial athlete from Work Right NW!