I live in St. Louis, MO where basically snow comes and goes year to year.  You may or may not have invested in a snow blower because of how intermittent the snow patterns are.  So, if you are a person who does not own asnow blower and may have some snow in the future, here are a few tips to prevent you from hurting your back considerably while shoveling snow.

1. Lots of Happy Helpers - This is the most basic of advice.  The more people that are physically able to help the less chance that one person will get hurt moving a foot of snow off the driveway. 

2. Be Realistic About Current Fitness - Even for a very active individual, the task of lifting heavy loades of snow and moving them for hours on end can be very difficult.  If you are a person just dead set on clearing that sidewalk in an hour....please be realistic.  Take your time.

3. Legs not Your Back - DO NOT!!!  I repeat DO NOT!!! lift bend over at the back low to the ground to lift a bunch of loads of snow off the ground.  You will end up in the doctor's office pretty fast following this techniques.   Lift with the legs...defined as keeping the back relatively straight and then bend from a combination of hips and knees. 

4. Do not Turn and Toss - The lower back is terrible at turning due to its structure.  Furthermore, if is REALLY bad if it is turning 20 pounds of snow on the end of a 3 foot shovel a couple hundred times.  Simple lift, turn at the feet, and then toss without wrenching your back.