The simple sack truck is a nice addition to any job site that involves transporting or moving boxes or items. This will help reduce the risk of injury to your personnel from manual handling, as well as improve productivity.
Manual handling injuries
More than a third of the injuries reported each year are the result of manual manipulation, that is, the support or transport of loads with body force or by hand.
Hit by moving vehicle – 2%
Falls – 4%
Hit by falling objects – 13%
Other – 20%
Travel – 23%
Handling – 38%
Check list
Before using a sack truck or any other type of handling aid, check the following points: Is the equipment the right type for the job?
Required strength
The amount of body force required to move an object on a flat, level surface using a well-maintained sack truck or similar handling aid is approximately 2% of the weight of the load. Example: if the weight of a load is 400 kg, the force required to move it will be 8 kg. If conditions are not perfect, such as the device is in poor working order or the wheels are not in the correct position, the force required can be much higher. Remember that an operator should always try to push rather than pull the load as long as they have a clear line of sight over it and can also control the stop and direction of the truck.
Move items on slopes
When it comes to navigating a ramp or incline with a load, the employee should always try to enlist the help of another worker whenever necessary, as the required pulling or pulling force can be very high. Example: If the same 400kg load used in the previous example were to move up a slope of 1 in 12 (5 °), then the required force increases to around 30kg even in perfect condition, i.e. smooth surface and good wheels. This is above the recommended guideline for men and well above the weight guideline for women.
Soft or uneven surfaces
When using a hand truck or similar handling aid on soft or uneven surfaces, the force required is much higher. On an uneven surface, this increased force could be as much as 10% of the load weight, although the use of larger wheels can compensate to some extent. The force required for soft terrain can be even worse than that for uneven terrain.
Posture and gait speed
Operators should always go at a speed not faster than walking and keep their feet well clear of the load being carried. This will make it easier to push and prevent them from getting tired too quickly.
Force guidelines for pushing and pulling
Force to stop or start a charge. Men – 20 kg Women – 15 kg
Constant force is required to keep the load moving. Men – 10 kg Women – 7 kg
General precautions
Operators should minimize and be aware of the following hazards
- When moving loads on dock pads, dock plates / bridges, slopes, or uneven surfaces, make sure the truck’s drive wheels are away from the edges.
- Be on the lookout for other creases, obstacles, and obstructions to avoid the possibility of a collision.
- Try to purchase or install trucks with knuckle guards on the handles to reduce the risk of catching the operator’s hands between the truck and other objects.
- Keep the center of gravity of loads as low as possible.
- When moving multiple objects or boxes. Place the lightest objects on top of the heaviest objects.
- Make sure the load is balanced so that the weight is resting on the axle and not on the handles.
- Restrict the height of the load to allow a clear view in front of you.
- Use trucks designed for the purpose in question, i.e. curved rear trucks to transport drums or cylinders, high back and straight back sack trucks for appliances, etc.
- Let the truck take the weight of the load as the operator only has to push and balance the truck.
