MANUAL MATERIAL HANDLING SAFETY POLICY



MANUAL MATERIAL HANDLING SAFETY POLICY

[pic]

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

One of the standard suggestions for preventing back injuries is to use material handling aids rather than lifting manually. But nothing is risk-free, including pallet jacks, dollies, hand trucks, and even ropes and strapping. So it's vital to know and follow safety procedures that can prevent back injuries and keep the loads from falling and causing injuries.

ELECTRIC PALLET JACK A very important piece of equipment in the warehouse and material handling areas is the electric pallet jack. It's an economical and versatile unit, designed to move stacks of materials from one place to another, safely and without injury or product damage. Because it's easy to use and provides such durable service, it's natural to take them for granted, but there are basic safety rules and operating procedures required when using this type of equipment. Maintenance of the equipment is equally important.

Some basic operating rules for this type of equipment are:

1. Know your equipment. Do not operate the equipment until you have been trained.

2. No riders.

3. Make sure your loads are stable and are not stacked too high.

4. Center your load. When using forks, space the forks as far apart as the load will permit. Before lifting, be sure loads are centered and forks are completely under the load. Of course, never overload the vehicle. Do not hit or bump anything with the ends of your forks, as this can damage the vehicle. Never lift a load with only one fork engaged.

5. Keep the load low to the floor. Never lift or lower the load while the vehicle is in motion.

6. Avoid sudden movement.

7. Exercise caution on ramps and inclines.

8. Secure bridqeplates. Drive carefully and slowly across dockboards and bridgeplates. Never exceed these dockboards or bridgeplates rated capacity and make sure they are secured before driving on these plates.

9. Do not operate this equipment with greasy hands or shoes. It's too easy to slip off the controls and create an unsafe condition.

10. Come to a complete stop before changing directions.

11. Continuing to operate either the drive or hydraulic controls in a situation where the truck or load will not move, will cause damage to the electric motor.

12. Do not push extra loads or other pallet jacks.

13. When traveling, keep your hands, feet and other parts of your body inside the running lines of the vehicle. Always look in the direction of travel and keep a clear view of the path of travel. When visibility is impaired, operate the vehicle with the opposite end in the travel direction and use caution. Another very important safety tip is to keep your feet well away from the front skirt and rider platform when maneuvering the vehicle.

14. Before entering trucks or trailers, be certain the brakes on the truck or trailer are applied and the wheel chocks are in place.

15. When approaching cross aisles, slow down, sound your horn and if vision is obstructed, keep to the right side. Operate the truck under all conditions at a speed that will permit it to be brought to a stop in a safe manner. Of course, yield the right of way to all pedestrians.

16. When parking your vehicle for an extended period of time, be sure the lifting mechanism is lowered, controls are placed in neutral and the brake is applied. Shut off the power and disconnect the battery connection. Keep your vehicle clear of exits and access to stairs and fire equipment and don't block aisles.

17. SPEEDING. Electric pallet jacks don't have speedometers. Generally, the rule of thumb is to go slow. If you're going fast and have to make a sudden stop, you can be thrown off the vehicle.

Manual Pallet Jacks

Manual pallet jacks require the same care, handling and operating as do electric pallet jacks.

Inspect the equipment before you use it and make sure all the safety and operating features are working properly.

The following rules apply when utilizing a manual pallet jack:

1. Never, under any circumstances should you use the pallet jack as a scooter, or in any way ride on this equipment.

2. Do not carry passengers on the equipment.

3. When going up or down ramps, the operator must remain upgrade. This means the load will be carried downgrade, with the operator upgrade. The reason for this is quite simple. If the load or the pallet jack becomes a runaway from the weight or the angle of the ramp, the operator will be protected by being upgrade.

Dollies and Hand Trucks Here are a few safety rules for getting a job that uses a dolly or hand truck off on the right foot.

1. Select the right truck-one that's the right capacity and shape for the load.

2. Use safe lifting techniques to load-let the legs, not the back, do the work.

3. Put heavy objects on the bottom.

4. Position the load forward over axles so the truck, not the handles, carries the weight.

5. Secure bulky, awkward, or delicate objects to the truck.

6. Be sure operator can see over the load.

A dolly or hand truck is supposed to reduce physical strain on the operator. Following these procedures will help achieve that goal-and keep the load secure:

1. Get a firm grip on the handle.

2. Walk-don't run-with back straight, knees bent, buttocks out.

3. Lean in the direction you're going; walk backwards only if needed to get into a tight space.

4. Push, don't pull, so the truck does the work.

5. Keep load ahead when going downhill.

6. Keep an eye out for other vehicles, obstructions, and edges.

Ropes Material handling is often made easier by securing items with ropes. Again, it's important to understand how to select and use these aids.

1. Match the rope to the job. Ropes made of manila and nylon are usually toughest; stiff, yellow sisal ropes are less strong.

2. Test rope strength with a small item before use.

3. Inspect rope before each use. Replace rope if it has broken fibers or if it breaks by hand, looks dry, or won't stretch.

4. Don't kink or drag rope or let it freeze.

5. Splice, don't knot, rope.

6. Store rope in a dry area after cleaning it.

Steel and Plastic Strapping Straps are another good aid for bundling and securing materials. Their biggest hazard is their sharp edges. Here are rules that must be followed to use strapping efficiently and safely.

1. Be sure straps can handle the planned load.

2. Wear protection-safety shoes, glasses, gloves.

3. Make strapping taut-not too loose or too tight, and no dangling ends.

4. Cut straps with cutters, not hammers or pry bars.

5. Don't lift by strap unless it's designed for that purpose.

6. Dispose of used strapping promptly, carefully, and properly.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download