Intro to Material Handling

Basics Plan the task before doing it Wear appropriate PPE Follow lifting procedures Pre-task planning make sure the load is too big, too heavy, or too hard to grasp Watch for protruding nails, wires, or sharp edges

If you can not lift be yourself, get help Inspect the path of travel – look for things that can make you slip, trip, or fall Read warning labels – be aware of hazards PPE No loose clothing, tuck in and button shirts, remove jewelry, wear gloves whenever there are times you can get hurt

Remove gloves when working with rotating equipment Plan before lifting or lowering a load – find out how, when, size Frim footing, good grip, lift with legs, keep back straight, keep head up

Keep aisles clear, keep away from the weather, follow carton guidelines, stack pipes so that they will not role, tie down if possible, store flammables away from things that will ignite When stacking bags that are the same width, step back and cross the bags every 10 bags high Don’t store materials on scaffolds

Knots Square knot – used to tie the ends of a rope around an object –commonly used to join two lengths of rope together in low-strain applications –same size rope Bowline knot – used to form a secure loop in the end of a rope – does not slip or bind when under a load

Half-hitch – ties a rope around an object like a nail, bar, post, or ring – commonly used for tasks like suspending items from overhead beams – stable knot but not for heavy loads Clove hitch – one of the most widely used hitches – quick and secure tension knot on a fixed object that serves as an anchor – comes loose as soon as tension is removed – can bind – can use two half hitches to tie

Material handling equipment Non-motorized Material cart – platform truck – platform with casters – transport materials around a jobsite – make sure you do not exceed the weight Hand truck – dollies, two – wheeled carts used to transport heavy loads Cylinder carts – used to carry gas cylinders Wheelbarrow – one or two wheeled vehicle with handles at the rear

pipe mule – two-wheeled device used to carry medium length pieces of pipe, tubing, or scaffolding Pallet jack – typically uses hydraulics to lift and move heavy or stacked pallets A roller skid may have a rotating table surface or spikes on the table

Motorized – be trained, certified, authorized Powered wheelbarrow – power buggy – like a manual wheelbarrow, but with a motor Concrete mule – Georgia buggy – moves concrete, sand, gravel Freight elevator – most of them close from top to bottom – heavy duty

Industrial forklift – power operated – lift, lower, transport large equipment – usually used on flat, solid ground Rough terrain forklift – used on irregular surfaces – not paved Fall zone – any area where lifted material can fall – keep the load low

Forklift symbols Raise the tines – forearm vertical, forefinger pointing up, move hand in small horizontal circle Lower the tines – arm extended, palm down, lower arm vertically Tilt mast back – forearm vertical, thumb extended, jerk thumb over shoulder

Tilt mast forward –arm extended, fingers closed, thumb pointing downward, lower arm vertically Move tines in direction finger points – arm extended, palm down, point forefinger in direction of movement Dog (pause) everything – clasp hands in front of body

Stop – extend both arms, palms down When using hand signals maintain eye contact with the operator