Material Handling and Storage : Material Handling and Storage Occupational Health and Safety
November 7, 2005
Objectives : Objectives Recognize material handling hazards
Manual material handling
Industrial trucks
Conveyors
(Cranes will be addressed later)
Become familiar with basic methods of controlling these hazards
Material Handling and Storage : Material Handling and Storage Outline
Introduction
General Practices
Storage
Manual Material Handling
Powered Industrial Trucks
Introduction : Introduction 600,000 overexertion injuries, 27% of all lost- workday cases
370,000 injuries caused by lifting
93,000 pushing/pulling
Strains and sprains from loads that are too heavy or large
Fractures, cuts and bruises from improper storage
100 annual deaths from Powered Industrial Trucks (forklifts)
Introduction : Introduction General Work Practices
Get help for large loads or use mechanical devices
When blocking a raised load:
Keep hands from underneath before releasing load
Use blocking materials of adequate strength
Look for cracks, splintered pieces, rounded corners, etc.
Attach handles or holder to loads
Use appropriate PPE
Gloves, eye protection, safety boots (for heavy loads)
Introduction : Introduction General Work Practices (cont.)
Do not overload equipment
Refer to equipment rated capacity
General forklift procedures
Center load on forks and close to mast
Do not overload
Do not add extra weight to counterbalance
Travel with load at lowest position
Materials Storage : Materials Storage Precautions for stored materials
Stacked loads correctly piled and cross-tiered
Stored material must not create hazard
Areas free of accumulated material
In buildings, no stored materials within 6 feet of hoist ways or 10 feet of exterior building walls
Store non-compatible material separately
Materials Storage : Materials Storage Stored material precautions (cont.)
Employees in silos, hopers or tanks equipped with lifeline and safety harness
Bound material stacked, on racks, blocked or interlocked to keep it from sliding, falling or collapsing
Don't exceed load capacity for the structure
Post load limits
Stacking height
Mark walls or posts to indicate maximum height
Lumber and Brick Storage : Lumber and Brick Storage Lumber
Maximum stack height
16 feet (manual handling)
20 feet (forklift)
Remove nails from used lumber
Stacks stable and self-supporting
Bricks
Maximum 7 feet high
Above 4 feet, taper stacks 2 inches per foot
Lumber storage
Block and Bag Storage : Block and Bag Storage Masonry blocks
Above 6 feet , taper stacks 2 block per tier
Bags and bundles
Stack in interlocking rows
Step back at least every 10 layers
Remove from top of stack first
Keep baled paper and rags at least 10 inches from walls, ceilings, or sprinkler heads
Block storage
Box and Drum Storage : Box and Drum Storage Boxed materials
Hold in place using cross-ties, or shrink plastic
Block cylindrical material (bars, poles, etc.)
Use bins or shelves for materials that cannot be stacked
Box storage
Box and Drum Storage : Box and Drum Storage Drums, barrels, kegs
Stack symmetrically
If stored on side, block bottom tiers to prevent rolling
If stacked on ends, use planks, pallets, etc. between each tier
Drum storage
Manual Lifting : Manual Lifting Manual lifting precautions
Avoid manual lifting when possible
Limit vertical lifting (knuckle-to-shoulder height)
Be in good physical shape
Plan the lifting operation
Get a good grip
Keep the load close to the body
Do not twist or bend sideways
Get help for large or heavy loads
Manual lifting
Manual Lifting : Manual Lifting Recommendations for specific tasks
Grasp opposite corners on boxes, cartons & sacks
Use mechanical assistance for barrels and drums
Wear leather gloves when handling sheet metal
Plate glass
Carry with bottom edge in gloved palm, other hand on top edge
Never carry plate glass under the arm
Use a team for long objects
Drum jack
2-wheeled hand trucks : 2-wheeled hand trucks Safe hand truck use
Tip load forward and slip tongue underneath
Keep center of gravity low
Let the truck carry the load - don't lean it too far
Walk forward - keep load height low enough to see
Secure bulky items to the truck
Use specialty equipment
Drums
Appliances
Stair climbers
Stair-climbing truck Appliance
truck Hand truck Drum truck
Conveyers : Conveyers Conveyer basics
Hazards
Nip points (rollers, near frame)
Material may fall from conveyor
Persons may be caught in the conveyor
Controls
Emergency stop button or pull cord
Must be reset after use
Never ride on conveyor
Guards over aisles or
work areas
Screw conveyors covered, interlocked Inclined belt conveyor Screw conveyor
Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts) : Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts) Forklift injuries and deaths
100 annual deaths, 95,000 injured
Cause of fatality:
42% crushed by vehicle tipping
25% crushed between vehicle and surface
11% crushed between two vehicles
10% struck or run over by vehicle
8% struck by falling material
4% fall from platform or forks
2% accidental activation of controls
Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts) : Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts) Forklift injuries and deaths (cont)
“Classic” forklift accidents:
Forklift overturns when traveling or lifting a load
Trailer moves while being loaded or unloaded, causing the forklift to fall
Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts) : Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts) Forklift safety
ANSI Approved
Identifying label
Owner modification
Only with mfg. Approval
New label required
Front-end attachments
Should have new label
Classes of forklifts : Classes of forklifts Electric Motor, Sit-down Rider, Counter-Balanced Trucks (solid and pneumatic tires)
Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks (solid tires)
Classes of forklifts : Classes of forklifts Electric Motor Hand Trucks or Hand/Rider Trucks (solid tires)
Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (solid tires)
Classes of forklifts : Classes of forklifts Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (pneumatic tires)
Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors (solid and pneumatic tires)
Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks (pneumatic tires)
Rough Terrain Extended-Reach Forklifts Tractors
Trucks for Hazardous Locations : Trucks for Hazardous Locations “Explosion proof” forklifts are used to control ignition
Example:
DS (Diesel), EE (completely enclosed electrical), or EX trucks where flammable gases or liquids are handled, but contained
Powered Industrial Truck Safety : Powered Industrial Truck Safety Fuel, liquid or gas
Handled in accord with NFPA standards
Batteries
Hazards
Lifting and handling
Acid (electrolyte)
Hydrogen produced during charging
Precautions
Designated battery charging area
Spill control, fire protection, ventilation, etc.
Mechanical handling equipment
No smoking Battery charging station Forklift battery
Powered Industrial Truck Safety : Powered Industrial Truck Safety Trucks and Railroad cars
Many deaths occur when a truck moves as it is loaded
Forklift travel and braking action cause the truck to move away from the dock
The forklift falls into the gap and the driver is crushed
Precautions
Brakes set, wheel chocks (trucks)
Wheel stops (railroad cars)
Trailer restraints secure the truck to the loading dock
Wheel chock Trailer restraint
Powered Industrial Truck Operation : Powered Industrial Truck Operation Safe forklift operation
Never drive toward a person standing in front of a fixed object
No person under any elevated portion
Do not place arms or legs in the mast or outside the truck
Unattended trucks must be shut off with lowered load
Set brakes and wheel blocks when loading vehicles (trucks, rail cars, etc.)
Maintain headroom under lights, sprinkler systems, etc.
Use overhead guard to protect from falling objects
Use load backrest when necessary
Powered Industrial Truck Operation : Powered Industrial Truck Operation Safe forklift operation
Cross railroad tacks on the diagonal
Sound horn at blind intersections
Back down ramps, drive forward up ramps
Operate at safe speed, avoid quick turns
Personnel on loading platform must have an emergency shut-off for truck power
Secure dockboards and bridge plates
Loads must be stable and safely arranged
Disconnect battery before repairing electrical system
Replacement parts must be equivalent to original A dockboard
is used to bridge
the gap between
loading dock and truck/trailer
Forklift Training : Forklift Training OSHA standard, 1919.178(l)
Effective March 1, 1999
Formal training program required
OSHA specified topics
Stability, operation, etc.
Initial training before use
Refresher training (based on observations)
Employer must certify proper training
Forklift Training : A B C Vehicle Center of
Gravity (Unloaded) Center of Gravity
of Vehicle and
Maximum Load
(Theoretical) Stability Triangle: Notes: 1. When the vehicle is loaded, the combined center of gravity (CG) shifts toward line B-C. Theoretically the maximum load will result in the CG at the line B-C. In actual practice, the combined CG should never be at line B-C.
2. The addition of additional counterweight will cause the truck CG to shift toward point A and result in a truck that is less stable laterally. Forklift Training
Forklift Training : Load CG Vertical
Stability
Line
(Line of Action) Combined CG Truck CG Load CG Combined CG Vertical
Stability
Line
(Line of Action) Truck CG The vehicle is stable This vehicle is unstable and
will continue to tip over Stability Triangle Forklift Training