You begin to feel minor strain in your back partway through a shift of lifting. What is the BEST action?

Recognizing and responding to early signs of physical strain is part of working safely in a physical job. The best response is to reassess your lifting technique, use proper form and any available equipment, and report discomfort that continues or worsens, rather than pushing through pain (which risks a serious injury) or ignoring it. Quietly stopping without informing anyone, or deliberately lifting heavier, are both poor choices. The VEA rewards body awareness and safe self-management, because preventing minor strains from becoming disabling injuries keeps workers healthy and the operation staffed.