utilising the correct "Palm" grip
It goes without saying that you should have a good grip on the load to avoid dropping it, (maybe onto the shin bone!). The correct grip is the so called palm grip whereby not just the fingers but the palm of the hand is utilised.
The flat palm of the hand should actually be under the load so it's not being carried by the fingers. It may not be possible to do this as shown above as the han holds provided aren't big enough. In these cases a risk assessment should be performed.
If the contents of the load are hazardous such as too hot/cold/acid etc the correct personal protective equipment should be worn.