We recommend the ability to comfortably lift 50 pounds for some volunteer roles. If you can lift one end of a desk or couch with someone on the other end over a short onto a cart, you can comfortably be a furniture mover. However, if you have any injuries, pain, or other ailments that can be exacerbated by even safe lifting practices, we strongly encourage you to volunteer in a non-lifting capacity.
Tips #
- Dress appropriately in comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes with a good grip.
- Heavy and/or long objects are to be lifted by two or more people.
- Use a lifting aid, such as a dolly or cart, whenever possible.
- Secure any loose pieces that could fall or break e.g. drawers, loose legs, etc.
Safe Lifting Posture #
- Bend at the knees
- Maintain straight posture
- If possible, hold the item from opposite corners to distribute the weight
- Lift a heavy object above your head
- Use a curved back or twist
- Bend at the waist
How to Use a Pallet Jack/Truck #
- Only raise the forks as high as needed. The load only needs to be about 1″ off the ground to move. The load will be much more stable closer to the floor.
- Push when possible. Pulling can cause unnecessary strain on your back.
- If you are moving on an incline, always stay uphill of the load. If something accidentally slips, you do not want to place your body in line with the path of the load. Start and stop slowly so you do not accidentally run into anything.
- New Life has 3 pallet jack sizes: standard (pallets), narrow short (furniture), and narrow long (couches).
How to Use a Hand Truck or Furniture Dolly #
- Items should not be taller than the hand truck.
- Use a strap to secure heavy items.
- Note: “Dolly” is also what we call our large wooden dollies (see below).
How to Use Platform Dollies #
- Large wooden dollies (left) can carry a significant amount of furniture at once.
- Avoid overloading. 2 couches or equivalent weight is the max.
- Small platform dollies (right) are convenient for small furniture, boxes, and household goods.