Which of the following is one of the lifting principles?

• A. Explain the task to others
• B. Keep load close
• C. Bend at the waist without keeping lordosis
• D. Wear gloves to improve grip

Answer: (B)

Safe lifting centers on keeping the load close to your body to protect the spine. When a weight is held farther away, the spine has to resist a larger turning force (torque), which increases the strain on the back muscles. By pulling the load in toward your midsection, you reduce that lever arm, recruit your legs more than your back, and lower the risk of injury. This principle is what makes the lift safer overall, and it fits with the typical technique of bending the knees and hips to lift while keeping the spine in a neutral position. The other options don’t modify the mechanical demands in the same way: explaining the task is about coordination, bending at the waist without keeping the natural spinal curve increases stress on the back, and gloves don’t change the lever arm or spinal load.