MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES



                       A SAFETY TALK FOR

                      DISCUSSION LEADERS



This safety talk is designed for discussion leaders to use in preparing safety

meetings.



Set a specific time and date for your safety meeting.  Publicize your meeting

so everyone involved will be sure to attend.



Review this safety talk before the meeting and become familiar with its

content. Make notes about the points made in this talk that pertain to your

workplace.  You should be able to present the material in your own words and

lead the discussion without reading it.



Seating space is not absolutely necessary, but arrangements should be made so

that those attending can easily see and hear the presentation.



Collect whatever materials and props you will need ahead of time.  Try to use

equipment in your workplace to demonstrate your points.





                      DURING THE MEETING



Give the safety talk in your own words.  Use the printed talk merely as a

guide.



The purpose of a safety meeting is to initiate discussion of safety problems

and provide solutions to those problems.  Encourage employees to discuss

hazards or potential hazards the encounter on the job. Ask them to suggest ways

to improve safety in their area.



Don't let the meeting turn into a gripe session about unrelated topics.  As

discussion leader, its your job to make sure the topic is safety.  Discussing

other topics wastes time and can ruin the effectiveness of your safety meeting.



At the end of the meeting, ask employees to sign a sheet on the back of this

talk as a record that they attended the safety meeting.  Keep this talk on file

for your records.





MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES



NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER:



Demonstrate mechanical devices used for material movement that are

employed in your workplace. Take advantage of the experience of the workers by

asking them to demonstrate the devices properly.



Obviously there are materials on the job that cannot be moved by hand. Whenever

possible, material-handling tools should be used. They enable you to move heavy

objects rapidly and with less effort. Levers, inclined planes, jackscrews, and

block and tackle are some of the simpler devices.



But there are other devices that you use on the job every day--devices that are

sometimes taken for granted.





HANDTRUCKS



Many types of handtrucks are used throughout industry, including wheelbarrows,

dolly trucks and two-wheeled handtrucks. Two-wheeled handtrucks are used for

lifting and transporting heavy and bulky objects for short distances.



When using these trucks, make sure the load is placed carefully. Your view

should be unobstructed.



Two-wheeled trucks and wheelbarrows should be equipped with knuckle guards to

help prevent hand injuries. These guards can be made of canvas, leather or

rubber belts.



Cylinder trucks are used for moving compressed air cylinders; the cylinders

should be handled carefully and secured to the truck with bands, chains or

straps.



A three-wheeled handlift truck should always be centered under the skid it

carries so that good balance is maintained. This truck should be pulled;

pushing is limited to maneuvering. Leave the handle in the up position to

control tripping hazards.



Hand pallet trucks are designed for moving pallets; they should also be pulled.

The handle should be down only to jack the skid.



POWERED INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS



Powered industrial trucks move material quickly and easily and save work and

time. If you're selected as a lift truck operator you should know how to

operate the trucks carefully and safely and react correctly to every situation.



Pay attention to maximum load limits--never overload. Back the truck down a

ramp, but keep the load in front when you're going uphill.



Check to see that your path is clear before backing. Remember, pedestrians have

the right of way.



Make sure your truck is inspected thoroughly before starting it and report any

malfunctions to your supervisor. Check your brakes, steering, controls, forks,

hoist, warning devices and lights before and after each shift.



Tilt the forklift masts back when you're driving the lift and keep your head,

arms and legs inside. Keep the forks about 4 to 6 inches above the ground. Do

not use your forklift as an elevator for co-workers.



Drive on the right side under normal conditions; avoid quick starts, quick

turns and jerky stops. Come to a complete stop therefore reversing direction

and watch the distance between other vehicles.



Sound your horn when approaching a blind corner or when workers may not see

you.  Reduce your speed when the driving surface is slick or rough.



Check clearances when loading or unloading a truck bed and know the weight

capacity and condition of the bed.



Besides having regard for company rules, you, as a forklift operator, should

operate your machine properly, efficiently and alertly.



CONVEYORS



Generally, conveyors used in industry are roller, belt, screw, bucket, chain,

overhead trolley, portable, mobile, tow, or assembly types.



It is important that powered conveyors be guarded with wire mesh enclosures or

railings in order to keep you and others away from moving parts.



Avoid riding on conveyors, except those that incorporate platforms and control

rooms for operating personnel.



Conveyors should have conveniently located warning devices and emergency stop

controls. When maintenance is being performed, the power should be shut off and

the switch locked.



Rollers or pulleys at the ends of belt conveyors should be guarded to prevent

fingers and hands from being drawn into pinch points. A shield guard or housing

should enclose each end and all other areas at floor level where you could come

in contact with moving parts.



Screw conveyors should be completely covered and equipped with removable

inspection covers and an interlocking guard, so that when a section of cover is

removed the screw automatically stops.



Wheel conveyors should be equipped with side railings, installed high enough to

extend beyond the tops of the wheels. The pinch points between the bottoms of

the hoppers and the wheels present hazards that can be avoided by providing

shunts or side-belt conveyors for unloading containers.



CRANES AND DERRICKS



Only thoroughly trained persons are permitted to operate cranes.



The rated load must be plainly marked on each side of the crane and the crane

must never be overloaded.



Never work or stand underneath a crane that is moving material. If you're the

operator, do not swing loads over workers.



Keep hoisting chains and ropes free from kinks. Do not wrap chains or ropes

around loads--use a load block hook with a sling. Operators should make sure

the sling clears all obstacles.



Standard hand signals for boom cranes should be understood by both the operator

and the signaler.



Crane operators should never remove their hands and feet from the controls

while a load is suspended. All cranes should be inspected thoroughly by persons

familiar with all engineering aspects of the cranes.



NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER:



This talk can be adapted to fit the needs of your operation. You may not use

some of the equipment mentioned or you may wish to discuss some devices that

were not touched upon.





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Text Version