It's definitely to minimize damages to packages...
U use correct body mechanics to protect your self
Lmao - spend 10 minutes in my hub and watch how "loading" is handled, and then tell me "it's to protect the package". That's bull
. If they were concerned about damages to packages - the TV's that come down the belt and roller lines that are clearly marked "Fragile, do not lay flat, do not stack" - that are lying on the side with other boxes piled on top of them....that wouldn't happen. Add to that when they are loaded, they are often laid on their side and stuff is stacked on top of them (depending on where the box is placed in the "wall" that the loader is building). I've seen it with everything from a 27 inch to a 55 inch TV. (Usually anything bigger than a 55 is brought around via the irreg train instead of the conveyor system). That is just one example.
I can take a video of trailers being loaded and show you just how "careful" folks attempt to be with packages.
Hand to surface is part of the mechanics of lifting/moving a package (along with each hand on opposite corners, bending your knees, etc) - which is in place to protect the company (as they don't want you getting hurt while performing your job).