SAFE USE OF HAND PALLET TRUCKS



                       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.





SAFE USE OF HAND PALLET TRUCKS

TJ12

NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER:



After introducing the topic of hand pallet truck safety, ask if anyone has

experienced or witnessed an accident involving a hand pallet truck. If so, ask

for a description of what happened. Use accidents and past accidents to stress

the importance of safe hand pallet truck operation.



A hand pallet truck is a three-wheeled hand-operated truck designed for moving

pallets short distances. Safe operation pays off in several ways:



þ You avoid injury,v to yourself and loss of work time.



þ You prevent accidents involving co-workers.



þ You prevent damage to the equipment as well as the material you are handling.



NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER:



Briefly review the operating instructions for hand pallet trucks with the

group.  Have a truck available for demonstration purposes. Cover the following

procedures.



Hand pallet trucks have a simple raise/neutral/lower operating method.



þ To raise the forks, push the actuating lever down and pump the handle up and

do until the pallet has reached the desired height. It is not necessary to pump

until the lifting height is reached. A clearance of one inch between the floor

and pallet is usually sufficient to move the load.



þ To move a load, engage the actuating lever in a neutral or middle position.

While this position disengages the lifting mechanism, making the handle free

from hydraulic resistance, the forks remain in the raised position.



þ Lower the forks by pulling the actuating lever past the neutral position.

Because the leer is spring-loaded for lowering, when you release the lever it

will automatically return to the neutral position.



NOTE TO Discussion LEADER:



Discuss safe operating practices /rules with the group. Ask member to cite

examples; record examples on a blackboard or flip chart. Discuss how the

observance of these practices or rules would have prevented past accidents and

injuries.



Safe operating practices/rules include:



þ Using only the neutral position when maneuvering loads to reduce operator

fatigue.



þ Avoiding the movement of loads up or down ramps whenever possible. If you

have to make an emergency stop on a ramp, stop the truck by lowering the load.



þ Always working uphill from the pallet truck when moving loads up or down a

ramp.



þ Pulling rather than pushing loads on long-distance moves, making it easier to

see where you're going and to steer the load.



þ Not riding or permitting riders on the truck.



þ Parking the pallet truck out of traffic areas in a safe, level place with the

handle up and forks lowered.



þ Ensuring the stability of the load you are handling.



þ Avoiding overloading the truck.



þ Positioning the forks evenly under the load for safer movement and easier

positioning.



þ Not picking up a load on one fork.



þ Checking in advance to make sure ramps, elevators and dockboards can handle

the load.



þ Always operating at a controllable speed, since hand pallet 
.