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Welcome to Material Handling Tips
Hi, I'm Joe Wallace, one of the hundreds of writers here at LifeTips.com. Enjoy these 285 Material Handling Tips! If you’re a business, why not hire the expert writers at LifeTips? And if you’re a writer, apply for freelance writing gigs.
Maintenance on the Box Dumper
Like any machine, a hydraulic box dumper will need periodic maintenance and safety inspections. Maintenance and repair should only be done by those who are qualified--allowing other personnel to repair the box dumper may void your warranty.
It's extremely important not to use brake fluid or jack oils in the box dumper's hydraulic system. Consult the user manual for the exact type of oil you can use in your machine. Some models are designed to use anti wear hydraulic fluid, and some may require Dexron transmission fluid. Check the box dumper owner's manual to be sure.
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Scissor Lift Safety
BeaconTechnology.com Tip: Scissor lifts are a huge help for maintenance, construction and repairs, but if your new hires are unfamiliar with the safety issues regarding scissor lifts, there are a few things you will need to stress.
Seasoned workers will know never to travel to the work area with a raised lift. Do your new employees understand why? Your new hires will also need to know the tolerances for raising the lift in wind conditions--how much wind is too much? If you don't know the answer, consult the operators manual or call your customer service rep to find out; it could mean a big difference in the safety margin of your next operation.
If you are operating scissor lifts adjacent to traffic, the lift will need the correct work zone protection, including barriers, warning signs, etc.
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Financing Gantry Cranes and Other Equipment
Your gantry crane purchases, along with other equipment, can be financed by the company selling the merchandise if you and your company meet certain conditions.
If you are the company owner and have good personal credit, plus trade references from other vendors you do business with, your gantry crane purchase can be financed for amounts up to $75,000 in some cases. You can also obtain approval within 48 hours with a simple one-page application.
In many cases you'll need to submit detailed information for loan amounts from the company in excess of $75,000. This includes financial statements and tax returns from the last two years. It is best to prepare such a package before submitting your order and requesting a line of credit. Doing so will make your purchase and credit approvals go much more quickly.
Gantry cranes, drum handling equipment and other purchases can all become part of an ongoing purchasing relationship if your credit is sufficient and you have the required paperwork!
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Safety Signs are Important Safety Products
BeaconTechnology.com Tip: It seems like the most obvious thing in the world: Keep out. Watch your step.Heavy equipment operating. Danger. But even when it’s right in front of their eyes, somebody will miss the risk.To protect yourself, your workers, passersby and your company from lawsuits, health and safety identification signs are vital.
Safety signs – OSHA calls them “hazard communication” – are generally bright yellow, green or red to grab the attention.These safety products warn of hazards, such as those from biological factors, chemicals, no smoking, confined spaces, waste accumulation and hazardous waste, the presence of fire exit doors,electric panel operations, out-of-service machinery, hard-hat areas, high-voltage areas – even reminders to use both hands when climbing ladders.
The New Mexico State University recommends the purchase of durable, laminated, color-fast signs for long-term use in any potentially hazardous environment.For warehouses and construction sites, worker and driver safety signs are available in yellow polyethylene with black text.And a common one on Army bases: Safety is no mistake.
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A Thirty Dollar Tool Can Save Thousands
Equipment for drum handling can come in a variety of configurations. Some of the most basic gear are accessories to the more expensive equipment such as fork truck or pallet truck. These items may seem like miscellaneous purchases, but in the long run they can enhance productivity and reduce the potential for injuries due to repetitive use, leaks and spills.
A manual drum upender is an excellent example. This simple drum handling tool sells for around $30, and is used to help a worker move a drum onto a dolly or fork truck. The proper use of this drum handling tool prevents injuries that can occur when trying to use the arms and lower back to do the same job.
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Yard Ramps Wheels And Weight Loads
BeaconTechnology.com Tip: Yard ramps are equipped with wheels to help transport the ramp to the work site, but it's very important to check the owner manual when it comes to weight ratings for the wheels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the wheels are designed for transport only, and are not built to carry a load. If you don't retract or disengage the wheels and put a load on the yard ramps, you create a safety hazard where the wheels may collapse or buckle under the pressure. You also risk voiding any warranty on yard ramps.
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Aluminum Ramps--The Walking Ramp
The aluminum walk ramp is an inexpensive alternative to the fiberglass ramp used for the same purpose--to use people and hand trucks to unload or load trucks. Because the aluminum ramp is rated for much less weight than the fiberglass model, it is unsuitable for most motorized material handling equipment.
Human traffic and non-motorized moving equipment on these ramps are fine, but remember to check the weight ratios of your cargo before trying to wheel it onto the aluminum ramp. If your cargo is heavier than 2,000 pounds, it is too heavy for even the sturdiest aluminum ramp. If you routinely load or offload cargo heavier than 2,000 pounds, it's best to use the fiberglass model for your operation.
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Working With Portable Drum Dumpers
BeaconTechnology.com Tip: It is what it sounds like. Stationary and portable drum dumpers lift, move and dump the contents of 55- and 30-gallon steel, plastic or fiber drums, taking care of up to 1,500 pounds of pourable material in a single operation. The button-controlled dumpers are adjustable to standard heights, cycling rapidly to dispose of huge cargos within hours.
These are big items, and safety first: The obvious tip is don’t stand beneath a drum, especially if it’s moving. But when you’re working with them day in and day out there are steps you can take to minimize the risk to you and your crew. Work with drum positioners to let equipment take care of angling the heavy drums for forklift pick-up (some rotate the drums, as well), while drum carriers to load or offload the drums horizontally. Forklift drum grippers hold drums firmly in place – especially important with drums that have been opened – and drum hand carts are specially fitted to hold the drum in place as it’s lowered and its contents poured out. For the trickiest angles and tightest spaces, drum lifters can hoist the containers vertically – a back-breaking, tight job if attempted by a human crew.
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Do You Need Dock Security?
Some dock managers recognize security risks or theft potential for trailers parked overnight in a dock area. There are many solutions for different dock security needs, but you may need a trailer-specific solution for overnight parking. If you feel some loads are at risk, consider installing a thirty-dollar device known as a "king pin lock". This is a keyed device that covers a trailer's coupler or king pin. This preventing the trailer from being moved until the lock has been removed once the job is done. A similar device known as the "glad hand lock" prevents coupling with the air line connection of a semi trailer. Still another device is the parking brake lock, which prevents activation of a trailer's brake systems. If you are concerned with unauthorized moving of trailers in your dock area, one or all of these dock equipment solutions can be a major help.
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Why Invest In Non-Slip Surfacing For Ramps?
Ask any vendor and you'll learn that more than 13 million people suffer from slip-and-fall related injuries every year. Ramp operations are particularly liable for such injuries because loading and unloading must happen regardless of weather conditions. Rain, ice, sleet, and snow can make the ramps unsafe for foot traffic, unless non-slip surfaces are installed to help improve traction in wet conditions. Rubberized, non-slip surfaces are manufactured specifically for these ramp surfaces, and in some cases the surfacing is good for more than ten years. A $120 investment on a ten-foot section of ramp over 10 years is definitely good business compared to the costs of workers compensation, hospitalization, and other expenses related to on-the-job mishaps due to slipping hazards.
