5 Essential Steps for Material Handling Safety!

Is materials handling a safety concern in your organization?

Surprisingly, it’s a source of safety issues in many companies and workplaces. Let’s find out why that’s the case – and how to come up with an effective safety plan for materials handling.

Scope of Materials Handling

Materials handling is a form of logistics movement that includes any process that involves the movement between vehicles, conveyors, store rooms, other forms of logistics support where employees are involved to some extent. The extent of employee involvement will vary by operation and may include manual, automated, and semi-automated material handling events. The safety keys outlined below a general guidance that would require tailoring for specific materials and logistics support scenarios.

An Effective Materials Handling Safety Policy 

The foundation for a safe workplace starts with policies and procedures that senior management must put in place. A comprehensive health and safety policy would include the appropriate level of guidelines on material handling and the associated employee training program. A key portion of the policy would be the safety compliance activity that is essential for the business to operate. Most importantly, the policy would inform on the shared responsibilities of each employee in keeping the workplace safe.

Safety Training for Materials Handling

There are employee safety risks involved with materials handling in distribution centers, warehouses, shop floors and loading docks. The mitigation of safety risks starts with proper training in awareness, procedures and safety equipment. Safety training should be mandated for any new employees involved with lifting, carrying, loading or transporting materials in any form. In addition to new hire training, the safety risks and potential safety compliance rules may require re-certification on an annual or other regular time cycle.

Materials Handling Safety Procedures

The day to day handing of materials continues free of accident or injury when safety procedures are consistently followed. Procedures start with awareness of the specific materials handling risks involved and the proper safety equipment for the situation. Procedures would cover the types of material, and the conditions of the work area.

Is the work area free of obstacles? Is there adequate lighting? Other procedures would cover the number of employees involved with specific handing events and the proper safety gear for the task.

Here’s a list for safely lifting and moving materials:

• Maintain the correct posture: avoid bending over and keep lifts close to the body

• Lift in a careful, deliberate manner and avoid any sudden lift movements

• Never lift materials from a sitting position, or twist to pick up a heavy object

• Use the correct grip on objects; lifts should be shoulder high and with full grasp of the hands

• Get assistance from co-workers to avoid successive lifts of heavy objects

• Always make use of conveyors, slides or other devices, to avoid unnecessary lifting or pushing of objects

• Always go around a blocked pathway, never step over an obstacle while carrying material

• Maintain a clear line of site; objects should not block vision; lift only where there is sufficient lighting

• Whenever possible; reduce load sizes, adjust bulky objects to ease movement

• Regularly stretch back and leg muscles during the day and keep in good physical shape

These are useful if posted and/or included in safety training manuals and modules.

How ACT Can Help with Your Materials Handling Safety Training Needs

Safety for materials handling gear means the proper fit and use of personal protection, to include, eye-protection, steel toed boots, other personal safety equipment.

Materials handling safety equipment included the proper tools should be used in moving material. This would include the proper use of loaders, conveyers, forklifts and other aids to safely move material. A company’s day to day operation and its customers are dependent on efficient logistics, and the employees involved must be trained and equipped to consistently work safely in meeting the materials handling requirements of the business.

Knowing the Proper Safety Equipment to Use for Materials Handling – And Its Proper Use

An safety plan for materials handling is part of an overall safety program for any organization that is involved in materials handling.