Material-Handling Aids Training Tool: Safe and Efficient Handling of Materials

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2. Material-Handling Aids

3. Session Outline • You will be able to: • Recognize the hazards of material-handling aids • Understand how this equipment can help you work more efficiently and safely • Take proper precautions when using material-handling aids • Handle materials safely and avoid accidents and injuries

4. What You Need to Know • What the company does to protect you from material-handling accidents and injuries • What you can do to protect yourself and co-workers • Types of manual and mechanical aids • Hazards of this equipment • How to use material-handling aids safely and efficiently

5. Why Use Material-Handling Aids? • 1 million workers suffer back injuries each year • 1 out of 5 workplace injuries are back related • 4 out of 5 back injuries are to the lower back • 3 of those 4 injuries occur when lifting • Material handling is responsible for other types of accidents and injuries as well

6. How Material-Handling Aids Reduce Ergonomic Stress • Eliminate the need to lift and lower manually • Eliminate the need to push or pull • Convert lift/carry tasks to push/pull tasks • Eliminate the need to carry heavy objects

7. What the Company Does To Help Protect You • Engineering controls • Administrative controls

8. What You Can Do • Maintain proper back posture • Plan ahead • Get help

9. What You Can Do (cont.) • Use proper lifting and carrying techniques • Use the right tools • Wear appropriate PPE

10. Manual Material- Handling Aids • Hand trucks • Pallet jacks • Carts • Box trucks and tilting dumps • Ratchet hoists and pullers • Wheelbarrows

11. Hand Trucks • Choose the right hand truck for the job • Stack carefully • Make sure you can see over the load • Secure the load, if necessary

12. Hand Truck Operation • Get a firm grip • Watch your fingers • Use safe lifting techniques • Push, don’t pull • Watch where you’re going, and keep the hand truck under control

13. Pallets • Use the correct pallet • Stabilize the load and make sure it’s balanced • Keep the pallet and load low when moving it • Inspect pallets before loading • Don’t use pallets as a ladder or manlift, or for scaffolding

14. Pallet Jacks • Make sure the jack can support the load • Check the load • Watch where you’re going, and keep the load under control • Don’t fool around

15. Carts • Different types of carts • Material-specific carts • Different heights of working surfaces • Tips for safe use

16. Box Trucks and Tilting Dumps • Good for handling loose objects • Dump and lift feature • Potential hazards • Photo Credit: Vestil Manufacturing

17. Ratchet Hoists and Pullers(‘Come-alongs’) • Don’t overload hoists and pullers • Check anchor points • Never straddle equipment • Don’t exert more force than the device can handle • Don’t use damaged chains, rope, or cable • Inspect equipment before each use

18. Wheelbarrows • Place as much of the load as possible over the wheel • Balance the load • Always push a loaded wheelbarrow forward • Cross obstacles at right angles • Look out for slippery or uneven surfaces • Be careful when dumping the load

19. Manual Material-Handling • Do you understand the information that has been presented in the previous slides?

20. Mechanical Material- Handling Aids • Forklifts • Hydraulic- and winch-operated trucks • Hydraulic lift tables • Cranes and hoists • Freight elevators

21. Forklifts • Trained and authorized operators only • Capacity and stability • Operator inspections

22. Forklifts (cont.) • Operator safety rules • Obey speed limits • Keep alert to pedestrians • Be careful at intersections • Use the horn to warn • Pedestrian safety rules • Stay in walkways • Look both ways before crossing aisles • Obey traffic signs • Keep alert to forklift traffic

23. Hydraulic- and Winch-Operated Lift Trucks • Lift, lower, transport, stack, position • Load capacity • Load center • Fork length and width

24. Hydraulic Lift Tables • Prevent bending, reaching, and repetitive lifting • Manually or battery operated • Rated capacity • Floor locks

25. Cranes and Hoists • Trained and authorized operators only • Rated load capacity • Chains and slings • Inspections

26. Cranes and Hoists (cont.) • Stay out of the danger zone • Pick up a load only when it is directly under the hoist • Never transport people • Don’t leave loads suspended • Use lines to stabilize large, heavy loads • Avoid crane operation around energized circuits

27. Cranes and Hoists (cont.) • Mark levers, buttons, pull chains, and other controls • Accept hand signals from only one ground person

28. Freight Elevators • Follow rules for forklifts • Approach slowly and enter squarely • Enter with load end forward • Neutralize controls, set brakes, and shut off engine • Follow these other safety rules: • Don’t overload elevators • Make sure elevator is level with landing • Watch out for closing doors

29. Mechanical Material Handling • Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?

30. Conveyors • Operate only if you are trained and authorized • Watch out for powered rollers and pinch points • Do not climb over or under conveyors • Don’t perform maintenance unless the conveyor is locked out

31. Conveyors (cont.) • Do not ride on conveyors • Know the safe load limit • Know where emergency stops are located

32. Chutes • Don’t walk under chutes • Don’t stand right in front of the opening • Be careful when throwing things down chutes • Don’t overload the chute • Always brace temporary chutes

33. Handling Special Jobs:Drums • Dollies and hand trucks • Lifters and stands • Tilters/dumpers • Forklift attachments • Photo Credit: Vestil Manufacturing • Photo Credit: Vestil Manufacturing

34. Key Points to Remember • Material handling aids help you work more efficiently, saving time and effort • They also save your back • This equipment can also be hazardous • To work safely with material-handling aids, you need to understand the hazards and take the proper precautions