warning on lifting weight

[Geo]

i was lifting a bucket almost full of AP solution so i could siphon the fluid off and tore some ligaments in my shoulder yesterday. it was a stupid move and not very well thought out. i lifted the bucket using the bail with one hand. from the ground, i lifted with a swinging motion upward letting the weight of the bucket do most of the work, but at the top of the arc when the weight of the bucket came back down, my arm was extended palm side up.trying to keep control of the bucket, i tried to hold the entire weight. i felt and heard two distinct crunching sounds as the weight came down on my arm at the shoulder. luckily, the bucket fell exactly where i wanted it because by then it was out of my control. the pain was immediate and overpowering. i almost lost consciousness. like any red blooded macho male, i toughed it out last night without sleep and went to the ER today. luckily, i didnt dislocate the shoulder but i might have torn a muscle from the bone.

this was very clearly a very dimwitted thing to do as i have been through several classes on proper lifting and carrying weight. this is alot of pain that could have been avoided. now i have my shoulder immobilized and my arm in a sling. be careful lifting heavy weight. ill list some of the things i did not do properly.

lift with your legs and never with your arms or back.
keep weight close to the body and lift in a controlled motion only as high as needed.
with weight over 40 pounds, ask someone to help you lift the weight.
never lift weight with your arms extended.

im sure theres more but the pain killers are kicking in.

 

[Claudie]

I hope you had a sealed top on that bucket :shock:
I am always leary of picking up any buckets by the handle if they have been around acids. I don't trust the plastic handles and I worry that the metal ones are weakened by corrosion from the acid. I hope you heal fast, follow doctors orders and rest that arm so it can heal right. Don't get impatient and start using it before it's time.

 

[grance]

did the same thing filling our kabota tractor with fule only I pulled the ones in my chest

 

[AndyWilliams]

Sorry to hear about that Geo. I hope you get well soon.

 

[Platdigger]

Be healed up Geo.

 

[lazersteve]

Bucket handles should be removed as soon as they are purchased. The handles tend to corrode quickly after they are put into service and will inevitably fail.

Another note on lifting aged buckets that have been in service for long periods of time and left in direct sunlight. Buckets that become brittle or discolored will break under the weight of being lifted, especially if you are lifting with only one hand. I have made it a habit to rotate my buckets to avoid this type of sudden bucket failure. A good test before handling any aged bucket that has been exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time is to try to bend the lower lip of the bucket that is located about an inch and a half below the bucket rim. If the lip cracks the bucket should immediately be bailed out into a new bucket and removed from service. After the old decayed bucket is emptied and washed, I break it into pieces by stomping on it to prevent me from accidentally using it in a rush.

On the subject of refining injuries, I have been going back and forth with a tennis elbow injury from lifting and tilting bucket repeatedly everyday. It is good to alter your daily routine so that you lift and pour in a variety of different ways so as not to aggravate these types of injures. It's no fun getting old.

I hope your arm heals quickly Geo. I had to have rotator cuff surgery last year and it was no fun. My shoulder still bothers me.

Steve