Avoid Crunch When Handling Materials

Workers who move materials suffer more than their share of strains, sprains, sore shoulders and bad backs.

Consider the following tips for warehouse workers. Look for ideas you can use in your own job:

• Elevate pallets on a palletizer. This device sinks under the weight of a full pallet and rises as items are removed.
• Have pallets regularly turned with a forklift to maintain good access to items.
• Wear non-slip footwear.
• Watch for tripping hazards, and remove them immediately.
• Keep floor well-maintained with no ruts or bumps.
• Maintain handcarts, pallet jacks and walking forklifts so they can operate with a minimum of hand, arm and finger force.

Warehouse work can be hard on your back and can cause many other kinds of injuries. Use safe work procedures, and use materials handling equipment correctly.