Last Updated 6/9/2008

OSHA- Material Handling

Introduction

• Material handing aid can simplify jobs and move things more quickly and more easily.

• They can also reduce wear and tear on your back. • Improper lifting techniques are a major cause of

injuries, so it’s a good idea to use such material handling aids as dollies or hand trucks whenever possible.

• But accidents can happen with these aids, too. So it’s worth reviewing their safety basics to prevent injuries and make the jobs more smothly.

Identifying Hazards

• The greatest potential hazard of material aids at this workplace involved dollies and hand trucks. The danger is the possibility of losing the load. In the worst case, the load falls on the operator or someone just passing by.

• Another hazard of dollies and hand trucks is overexertion. You put extra strain on your back and risk injury if you move a dolly the wrong way. This defeats the purpose of using a dolly in the first place.

• Hazards lurk even with the simplest aids, like ropes and strapping, if you don’t know what you’re doing. Using the wrong rope for the job can mean dropping a load, and the sharp end and edges of steel and plastic straps can cause injuries if they’re not handled properly.

Protection Against Hazard

• Dollies and Hand Truckso To prevent injuries with dollies and hand trucks, you

have to know how to select, load, and operate them safely. Most of it is just common sense and thinking before your forge ahead.

o First, choose a hand truck or dolly whose size and shape matches what you’re going to carry. When you load or unload a dolly or hand truck, be sure to use safe lifting techniques. When you operate a dolly or hand truck, you want to do it so that the truck and your legs do the work, not you and your back.

Protection Against Hazards… Page 2

• Ropeo Whether you’re securing items to a hand truck, rigging up a hoist, or bundling for

easier carrying, you’ll often use rope. Now, rope is about as low tech as you can get, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things to know about it to make your job easier and safer.

o One of the key things to remember is that not will all ropes are the same. They’re made of many different materials and not all of them are suite for all jobs.

o One of the most important parts of rape safety is care and maintenance. A rope that’s just thrown in a corner will deteriorate and get weaker, though you won’t be able to see it. Inspect rope at least monthly. If it’s used to hole people on scaffolds, chick it before use. If it’s used around acids, inspect it daily because ropes deteriorate fast around acids.

o When you inspect rope, look for broken fibers. Untwist it in a few places to make sure strands are clear and unspotted. Try to break a small piece; if you can it with your hands, throw the rope away. Clean rope before storing it. Just loop it over a bar, spray it with water, and shake it out when it’s dry.

Protection Against Hazards… Page 3

• Strapso For some uses, steel and plastic straps are even

better than rope for bundling items. But the straps usually have pretty sharp edges, so you have to handle with care. Wear the right safety equipment, such as gloves, safety shoes, and safety glasses, and remove any dangling ends.

Safety Procedures

• We are so accustomed to having hand trucks and dollies around our workplace that it’s east to forget they can be a safety hazard. They look like such simple tools. What could go wrong? Well, if you don’t select the right truck or dolly for the job and use it appropriately, you could get hurt. Believe me, you don’t need the pain of a back injury. Appropriate selection, loading and use of hand trucks and dollies go a long way toward ensuring you safety while working with them.

Safety Procedures…Page 2

• The following guidelines should help you do this:o Select the right size and shape hand truck for the job.o Lift material onto the truck in such a way that your legs, not your back, do the

work.o Place heavy objects on the bottom. o Position the load forward over the truck’s axles.o Secure any bulky, awkward, or delicate objects to the truck. o Get a firm grip on the handle.o Move with your back straight, knees bent.o Lean in the direction you’re going.o Keep the load ahead of you when you go downhill.o Be alert to other vehicles, obstructions, and edges of platforms and loading docks.o Stack a load onto the truck or dolly in such a way that you can see over it.o Push a four-wheeled truck, don’t pull it.o Walk, don’t run.o Walk backwards only if it’s really necessary.

Safety Procedures…Page 3

• Ropeo Inspect rope regularly – daily if it’s been around acid.o Select a rope that can handle the load.o Store rope in a dry area with good air circulation.o Clean rope before storing it.o Use one piece of rope that is long enough for the job.o If a rope won’t stretch or looks dry or brittle, throw it

away.o Don’t let rope freeze; if it gets wet, dry it in a warm

area.o Keep rope away from acid or acid fumes.

Safety Procedures…Page 4

• Straps o Wear gloves, safety shoes, and safety goggles or

glasses.o Test straps to make sure it can handle the planned load.o Make straps taut – not too loose and not too tight.o Cut off any dangling ends.o Don’t lift by the strap unless it’s designed for that

purpose.o Use cutters to cut straps, not hammers or pry bars – be

aware of tension.