When the Immovable Object Meets the Unstoppable Force of Two Small Men

Moving a heavy object requires as much coordination as it does strength. An object's weight changes everything in regards to moving it. That applies to large items of furniture, pianos and other items that can weigh a couple hundred pounds or more. When we're talking about something that ways thousands of pounds, the task becomes herculean and infinitely more complicated. Special measures must be taken to protect floors, the lift itself must be strategized, and everyone is at an elevated risk of injury. It's not the same as moving a couch. This kind of special, heavy item relocation calls for specific pacing, specialized equipment and the highest level of trust among teammates.

This was the scenario that confronted mover Paul Quinn of the Victoria branch of Two Small Men with Big Hearts.

“It was a six-man crew,” Paul recalls. “And the job was to move a 2,000-pound safe door.”

It might sounds like it's easier to move just a safe door instead of the whole safe, but you've probably never moved either yourself. Your average safe door has a whole host of internal components such as locking bars, reinforced cores and layered steel that all add weight and complexity to the lift. It needs to first be removed from the safe, at which point it becomes unstable and unruly. And it still weighs 2000 pounds.

“Just the door,” Paul says.

There's no room for improvisation or error when it comes to a commercial move like this. There's no standard lifting method and it can't be done quickly. The whole thing needs to be planned out ahed of time so the movers know where the centre of mass is located and the how the weight will shift once lifted.

“It was a single piece,” Paul explains. “And if it slipped off the two wheels—off the beak of the dolly—then we would all have no ankles left.”

It might sound like hyperbole but the risk is real. Gravity is unforgiving when it comes to object that heavy. A quick slip or wrong turn can spell disaster. That's why professional movers will use industrial ratchet straps or commercial-grade dollies to help with the task.

“We managed to lift it up onto a two-wheel dolly,” Paul says. “And to do this move right, we were strapping it down to the door.”

In this case, securing the weight required more than just keeping the safe door upright. The vibrations, slopes and turns all needed to be controlled. Objects that heavy will naturally pull downward so even the highest grade of equipment can fail if used incorrectly.

“We ran straps around it,” Paul explains. “With cam straps or pull-tight straps, it wouldn’t get tight enough. Sometimes those fail just from the weight of some items. But with the ratchet strap, you can really lock it in.”

The building in which the safe was located added further complications as it was rife with narrow hallways an areas with minimal clearance, meaning it was impossible to make any sudden movements. All team members were forced to perfectly cooperate.

“Keeping the team as one unit can be challenging,” Paul says. “Everyone has to know what everyone else is doing. When moving something large—or something with a team—you’ve got to be on the same page. If everyone’s paying attention to what’s being said, then you know we’re all working together.”

Ultimately, it was pacing that proved to be most important.

“That was probably the day I learned that a slow load is safe load,” Paul says. “If you go crawling slow,” Paul says, “you can see where the pieces move up an inch at a time. It’s way easier to control when it’s slow and controlled.”

The crew's job was more to guide than it was to lift, maintaining balance the whole time.

“We ended up getting it done within an hour,” Paul says.

That's incredibly quick when you factor in weight and logistics. It reflects immaculate timing and move preparation. Once the safe door made it out, everyone relaxed.

“And the customer tipped us $50 each,” Paul adds. “It was great. If we had to put it on a truck, that would’ve been a lot more difficult.”

Ultimately, every aspect of this the move reflected upon the fundamental values of Two Small Men as a company. On a personal level, for Paul, the move was more than just difficult—it symbolized true profesionalism.

“It was good teamwork building,” he reflects. “You really learn how to move as one.”

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