How to Use a Shovel Safely

A shovel looks simple, but shoveling causes a large share of back, shoulder and wrist strains on jobsites. The right shovel and the right technique make the work easier and safer.

• Construction
• General Industry
• Landscaping

Pick the right shovel

Use a shovel with a handle long enough that you don’t have to stoop. A shorter person and a taller person should not have to use the same length shovel all day. A smaller blade means smaller, lighter loads: wet sand or concrete can weigh 15–20 pounds per scoop on a big blade.

Inspect it before you use it

• Handle is solid, with no cracks, splinters or splits (wood) and no frayed fibers (fiberglass)
• Blade is firmly attached; rivets and bolts are tight and the blade doesn’t wobble
• Blade edge is not badly bent, cracked or curled
• D-grip or end grip is secure and not broken
• Damaged shovel? Tag it “Do Not Use” and turn it in. Don’t tape a cracked handle.

How to shovel the right way

1. Check the ground first. Before you dig, make sure utilities have been located and marked (Call 811). Hand-dig carefully inside the marked tolerance zone.
2. Set your feet. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly ahead of the other, close to the load.
3. Grip it right. One hand on the handle grip, the other hand down the shaft about 12–16 inches from the blade for leverage. Keep your hands spread apart.
4. Use your leg to push. Place your boot (wear sturdy work boots, not sneakers) on the step of the blade and push down with your leg, not your arms.
5. Lift with your legs. Bend at your knees and hips, keep your back straight, tighten your stomach muscles, and keep the load close to your body.
6. Take smaller loads. Fill the blade only partway with heavy material like wet soil, gravel or concrete.
7. Turn your whole body. Pivot your feet to face where you are dumping. Never twist at the waist while holding a load, and don’t throw material over your shoulder.
8. Pace yourself. Take short breaks, switch your lead hand and foot now and then, and rotate tasks with coworkers on long jobs.

What NOT to do

• Don’t use a shovel as a pry bar or to break up concrete. Use a digging bar or pick instead.
• Don’t jump on the blade with both feet.
• Don’t leave a shovel lying blade-up or flat on the ground where people walk. Lean it against a wall blade-down or hang it up.
• Don’t swing or toss a shovel to another worker.
• Don’t dig in a trench 5 feet or deeper (or a shallower one that looks unstable) unless a competent person has put a protective system in place.

Protect yourself

• Gloves: reduce blisters and splinters.
• Safety glasses: dirt and gravel can fly, especially when breaking hard ground.
• Boots: safety-toe boots with a stiff sole protect your foot when you push on the blade.
• Respiratory protection: if you are shoveling dry silica-containing material (concrete debris, sand), wet it down first to control dust. See Crystalline Silica.
• Heat: shoveling is heavy work. Drink water often. See Heat Illness Prevention.

Last updated: October 1, 2026