Pallet Truck - SSOW

[PEDRO]

Sleepy,
As I said in my earlier posts there is no problem I can see in pulling a pallet truck as long as the load is relatively light however we instruct staff that pushing is always better than pulling especially if high force is required and then assistance must be sought.

I would suggest that any manual handling training should include this and any SSOW signed should also include this. we also have metal racks with wheels and we have the same statement on pushing rather than pulling on that SSOW also.

pedro

[sleepy184]

Sleepy,
As I said in my earlier posts there is no problem I can see in pulling a pallet truck as long as the load is relatively light however we instruct staff that pushing is always better than pulling especially if high force is required and then assistance must be sought.

I would suggest that any manual handling training should include this and any SSOW signed should also include this. we also have metal racks with wheels and we have the same statement on pushing rather than pulling on that SSOW also.

pedro

The items that are pulled with the pallet truck are RSC's that can weigh upto 250kgs.

[wordmaster]

Pushing a pump truck is a bad idea in my opnion. In my SSOW it states that this should only be done when you are moving the load into its final position. You need a clear view of where you are taking the load and you are not going to get this if you are pushing it in front of you. I have stated that the load should always be pulled behind you with a second person pushing from behind with heavier loads.

[Keith1983]

Pushing a pump truck is a bad idea in my opnion. In my SSOW it states that this should only be done when you are moving the load into its final position. You need a clear view of where you are taking the load and you are not going to get this if you are pushing it in front of you. I have stated that the load should always be pulled behind you with a second person pushing from behind with heavier loads.

I'd agree with the above, other than the second person being involved. I think involving a second person increases the risk considerably down to the likelihood of poor communication. If the load is too heavy for one person using an unpowered pallet truck then it needs another method of transportation.

[Alexis]

Hi Wordmaster.

Welcome to the site and thank you for you input with this post. It is a very old post, but won't do any harm to remind people.

Enjoy the site.

[kevlarion]

Generally these pallet trucks don't have a brake so you should never get yourself in front of a pallet truck, you should always push it, or pull it but walking to the side of it and out of reach of the back of the forks. That way when someone walks out in front of you, it won't run into your ankle and damage the achilles tendon, chip bones, run over those precious metatarsles. (protective footwear is a last, but very sensible resort... doesn't help the ankles and 200 joule toe caps will often deform if more than 40Kg runs into them and they don't offer much protection to the rest of the foot)
You should also take into consideration the weight, stability and height of the load. Although these pallet trucks can lift over a tonne do you really want to have a person trying to overcome the inertia of 1000Kg to get it moving and to try to stop it in an emergency (i.e. avoiding a collision) with their own 50 - 120Kg of mass ? You can of course drop the load onto the floor in an emergency then you only have the mass of the truck to stop, but will the load topple, spill, and even so the mass of a trolley is a fair chunk of momentum to stop using a handle that pivots, if it's being pulled those ankles are gonna get hurt. If it's being pushed lowering the load onto the floor will hold the trolley (assuming there's a pallet involved) - There should always be a pallet involved for this very reason.
In Summary :-

• You should push a load on a pallet truck,
• The load should be on a pallet,
• You should be able to see over / past the load to ensure the route is clear, The load should be stable (a stack of boxes might benefit from a bit of shrink wrapping)
• You should travel slow enough to ensure that should you have to, you have time to react and the load won't spill if you stop suddenly.
  Walking slowly also makes it much easier to steer when pushing.
• If you really must pull the load it should either be very light and stable (so that you can walk alongside the handle and out of the path of the fork heels), or you should use a powered pallet truck with a graduated speed control and an emergency stop button (so that if the handle hits you, the truck stops).
• Pallet trucks should never be used on an incline (no brakes).
• Protective footwear should be worn because you can't rely on humans doing as they are told all the time.

Regarding the blind corner, put up a convex mirror so that the corner is no longer blind.

[Reddwarf]

I have used these pieces of equipment and have always pulled them along. the handle or ram hinges to ensure there is a reasonable / safe distance between you and the pallet . pushing the pallet makes it very difficult to control as it can rapidly veer of in another direction also in my view more chance on injury when pushing either with the arm of the handle down or upright control is a lot more difficult.

as other have said injury is more likely if moving a heavy load so once the moment has started it's difficult to stop. my view if it need to people then an alternative method should be found as no one person has control the person pushing or giving assistance might get carried away and push to fast leaving the person steering losing control.

Every time this comes up their is always a debate whether you should push or pull i think it will come down to the individuals own experience what works best for them just ensure the load is not to heavy the route is safe to move the load and move the load at a sensible pace.. also there can be just as many issues with electric ones but possible better for moving heavy loads so long as there are sensible cut out systems and bumps stops on the handle so the operate can't crush themselves against a wall.

Red

[Jack Kane]

Hey Wordmaster,

Welcome to the forums

Glad to have you with us.

[Juan Carlos]

IMO They are designed to be PULLED

[lensman]

If you pull the truck with both hands, how can you look in the direction you are moving in, whilst walking backwards

[kevlarion]

What we really need is a brake fitted so that if you let go of the handle or if you raise the handle the brake will come on and stop the trolley.. maybe put a bypass lever on it so that you can push it handle up into it's final position without the brake coming on.

Now what's the number for the patent office....

I've been in the happy position of pulling a ton of stuff on one of these pallet trucks in my younger (fitter) days, everything from jam and bleach to computer parts. It's very hard work and a lot of people suffered from twisted backs, damaged ankles, and one unlucky fellow got between the handle and a support pillar with the handle in his chest, he left in an ambulance (but survived with some broken ribs and a cracked sternum).

Pulling is OK, so long as you walk slowly and the load isn't going to crash into your legs if you stop suddenly. Pushing is better for safety reasons, but they are murder to steer if you go too fast (kind of self regulating in that way). I used to do both, the heavy loads got pushed, the easy loads got pulled.

I would suggest that if you need to use two hands to pull the load, then you should be using a motorised appliance rather than human "run over my feet" power. They are meant as an alternative to manual handling (ie lifting and carrying), not a cheap alternative to using motorised transport such as a forklift or powered pallet truck.

[Reddwarf]

kevlarion

I like the idea of a brake on the handle that has to be pulled in before the truck can be move. that way if things do go horribly wrong letting go will allow the brake to be applied hopefully slowing down or stopping the truck totally. I guess a bit like the trolleys that you find in airports where you have to push the handle down before you can move the trolley.

Simple but effective idea i wonder why the manufacturers haven't thought or installed it before.

I'll race you to the patent office

Red

P.S. Another thought it would also be easier to load items directly onto the forks as it wouldn't keep rolling away.