How Gas Struts Improve Safety for Removalists in Victoria

Moving furniture is physically demanding work. Day in and day out, removalists in Victoria lift, carry, and lower heavy items, often at awkward angles and in tight spaces. This constant physical demand puts workers at real risk of injury, particularly to the back, shoulders, and joints. One tool that is changing how removal teams approach the job is the gas strut. Understanding how gas struts work and why they matter can help teams work more safely and last longer in the industry.

What Is a Gas Strut and How Does It Work?

Gas struts, also called gas springs or gas props, are sealed cylindrical devices that use pressurised inert gas, usually nitrogen, to generate controlled force. That force is what makes lifting, holding, and lowering heavy loads far more manageable.

These devices consist of a sealed cylinder filled with compressed gas and a piston that moves within the cylinder. When force is applied to the piston, it compresses the gas, storing energy. This stored energy is released when the force is removed, allowing the gas strut to extend and support the weight of the component it is installed on. The gas strut acts as a reliable and adjustable support system, counterbalancing the weight and providing effortless lifting and controlled closing motions.

In plain terms: the gas does the hard work so the person does not have to.

Why Safety Matters So Much for Removalists in Victoria

Manual handling injuries are a serious concern in Victoria's working environment. Hazardous manual handling is the biggest cause of workplace injuries in Victoria, with WorkSafe accepting 48,355 injury claims since 2021. More than 60 per cent of these injuries were musculoskeletal disorders such as sprains, strains, back injuries, soft tissue injuries, hernias, and chronic pain.

On average, about 26 workers are injured because of hazardous manual handling every single day across Victoria, and no sector is immune. For movers, who regularly handle bulky furniture, appliances, and boxes, that risk is especially present.

According to WorkSafe Victoria, the most common injuries related to manual lifting, as shown by injury claims, are: back injuries at 48%, covering muscle strain and disc injury from lifting objects; shoulder injuries at 17% from lifting and repetitively handling objects; abdominal injuries at 16% from heavy or awkward lifting; and arm injuries at 8%.

These are not minor issues. They can take workers off the job for weeks, months, or longer.

The Physical Demands Placed on Removal Teams

Where work requires lifting and lowering, pushing and pulling, or moving something or someone, that job requires manual handling. Manual handling requires a worker to use their body to handle goods. Sometimes this is unavoidable, such as when a removalist needs to move furniture.

Removalists face this reality constantly. They work across a wide variety of settings, from narrow inner-city apartments to large country homes, carrying everything from delicate antiques to heavy appliances.

How Gas Struts Support Controlled Lifting and Movement

The key benefit gas struts provide is control. Instead of a sudden, unguided force, the movement of heavy objects becomes smooth and predictable.

Furniture gas springs reduce manual effort and prevent sudden drops. This is important in a moving context, where a dropped item can mean injury to a worker, damage to the client's property, or both.

Gas struts provide controlled and smooth movements, preventing sudden jolts or slamming. This not only ensures user safety but also extends the lifespan of furniture by reducing wear and tear.

Reducing the Force Required to Lift

One of the clearest advantages gas struts offer is the reduction in physical force needed to move heavy objects. Gas struts reduce the force needed to lift and lower furniture by 70 to 90 per cent.

Furniture gas struts significantly improve how removalists interact with your furniture by reducing physical effort and providing controlled motion. Cabinet doors equipped with gas spring assistance open smoothly even when fully loaded with dishes or supplies. Storage ottoman lids lift effortlessly, eliminating strain on backs and arms during access.

For a removalist team,this kind of assistance across an entire day's work adds up to a meaningful reduction in physical load and fatigue.

Preventing Sudden Drops and Uncontrolled Movement

A sudden drop or uncontrolled swing of a heavy piece of furniture is a leading cause of injury on removal jobs. Gas struts address this directly.

Unlike coil springs, which squeak and rebound abruptly, or loose hinges, which let lids slam, gas struts use oil-damped gas flow to deliver slow, controlled closing that prevents fingers from being pinched and protects furniture from impact damage.

Gas struts provide smooth, controlled lifting and holding for truck and workshop tool boxes. They reduce effort, prevent sudden closure, and improve safety during use. On removal trucks, this same principle applies to storage compartment lids and tailgate panels that crew members access repeatedly throughout the day.

Locking Gas Struts for Held Positions



Some gas struts offer a locking function, which is particularly useful for removalists where items need to be held in position while workers reposition themselves.

Safety locking shroud gas springs automatically engage when the spring is fully extended and prevent the spring from compressing. This protects the operator from potential injury in the event of overload, misuse, or loss of gas pressure.

Blocklift gas springs allow the application to be locked in position at any point along the stroke length. Blocklift gas struts can be rigid or spring-blocking types. Spring-blocking allows slight movement under load, whereas rigid types do not. Blocklift gas springs have many different uses where infinite control of the position of the application is required.