Loading, Transporting, and Unloading
Be sure to take the following precautions when loading, transporting, and moving materials.
- Stage: Think about the loading process and arrange parts and supplies to assure that loading is efficiently conducted.
- Height: Do not stack material too high, to avoid falling material hazards and muscle strains.
Take adequate precautions to make it another safe day.
- Get help: Obtain help when loads are heavy, and use proper lifting techniques.
- Mechanical help: Use mechanical loading/unloading facilities when available.
- Pinch points: Watch out for pinched hands or fingers. Keep fingers from underneath when setting material down.
- PPE: Wear personal protective equipment, and be careful not to drop heavy objects on feet. Avoid using slippery gloves or lifting slippery objects.
- Good housekeeping: Slippery floors, crowded work conditions, and tools or other material on the floor can create hazards that can result in a variety of injuries, including back injuries. Be careful of your footing.
- Arrangement: Arrange parts and supplies/stack neatly. Don't overload vehicles. Secure material to prevent unexpected movement.
Note: Although not specifically "manual handling" problems, consider other precautions for loading, transporting, and unloading, such as:
- Deliver parts and supplies to side of machine away from stockpiles, or banks and maintain a safe distance from them.
- Stay away from trailing cables.
- Be sure vehicle is secured. Place vehicle in proper gear for parking, set brakes, and turn off motor. When parking on a grade, turn wheels into a bank or berm or block them.
- Use mechanical loading/unloading facilities when available, but be sure you're trained in and cautious of machinery hazards involved. Follow safe operating procedures for equipment being used.
- When transporting, maintain safe distance from all heavy equipment. Call or signal machine operators and wait for acknowledgement before approaching. Be aware of operators' blind spots and park in areas where vehicle is easily seen.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-9. A good practice for manual material handling is _____.
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