Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) is the umbrella term that refers to injuries, sprains and dislocations of ligaments, tendons, spinal disk, nerves, and joints. When they occur in a working environment, especially those places where there is a high percentage of manual labor, they are referred to as Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD or WRMD). Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders are the focal point when dealing with ergonomically specific appliances. The manufacture of any material handling equipment or its accessory is centered on just how ergonomically sound it is, since such an appliance would prevent WRMSDs from occurring.
Any company that has a record of the amount of WRMSDs that occurred before and after ergonomic appliances were introduced knows the value of their usage. It is automatically inferred that workplace injuries are a hazard and result in a decrease in turnover. Drastically minimize workplace injuries, and there would be a similar increase in company turnover. While the benefits of hand trucks may seem obvious, they should be used properly in order to harness their true potential. Two wheeled and four wheeled hand trucks have specific safety requirements, apart from the general list.
The hand truck should be of the right size, and capable of handling the weight capacity of the cargo. When loading a hand truck it is imperative that simple loading tips such as placing the heaviest load at the bottom, and positioning the load so it rests on the axle, so the handles do not bear all the weight, and so on are kept in mind. Additionally, it is always best to keep cargo within your visual range; this means, and that hand trucks should be kept in front of the worker unless, traveling upwards, in which case the sack truck should be kept behind the worker.
An important reminder that should not be ignored is the angle cargo is loaded as well as the manner in which it is loaded on to the sack truck. The proper technique can make all the difference between a healthy back and an unhealthy back. Where loads need to be lifted on or off a sack truck, it is essential that while the torso is bent, the knees should also be simultaneously bent. This distributes the weight evenly over the muscles instead of concentrating on a specific target area.
Heavy loads up an incline mean that the angle of the load has to be lowered in order to generate more pressure to keep pushing. This can be strenuous on the back and other muscles. To minimize strain, hand trucks should come with a collapsible 3rd wheel at the back which would be self supporting. Placing mirrors at strategic points of the work path when wheeling sack trucks will give extra visibility at blind corners or doorways especially when a load blocks visibility. Sack trucks should have shock absorbent wheels, so that despite a rough and uneven terrain the cargo and the handler would not experience unhealthy pressure. Additionally, sack truck tires should be regularly checked for punctures and tire pressure should be checked on a quarterly if not on a more regular basis. If powered hand trucks are used at any point of time, special attention should be given to handling and loading procedures as these trucks should always be handled by experienced and trained personnel.
For more sack truck and hand truck resources contact www.bil-sack-trucks-machine-jacks.co.uk
Read more on Health and Safety first-Using a Hand Truck the proper way…
