Pallet Jack Safety Tips

A pallet jacks is a useful machine in an industrial environment such as a warehouse or factory. It is also valuable to truck drivers who have to handle deliveries of heavy items to customers. These implements are controlled either manually or by electric and hydraulic systems, yet both types require careful and safe use to avoid personal injury and damage to property. Pallet jack safety is an important part of using these handy machines.

General Pallet Jack Safety

• A pallet jack is a potentially dangerous implement if not operated correctly. They are made of steel and have significant weight even when not loaded, and are therefore capable of causing injury and damage at any time when moving. They become especially dangerous when carrying loads of several hundred pounds. It is for these reasons that the website aboutsafety.com offers some basic safety tips for pallet jack use.

  Pallet jacks should be used only by trained operators. Load capacities must be adhered to at all times, and every unit is shipped with an attached information plate that provides safe load limits. Riding a pallet jack is never recommended, and anyone who is near a pallet jack must keep their feet clear of the implement. Spotters should accompany the operator in areas where the view is obstructed, and the operator must always be ready to stop immediately when persons or objects are in its path.

Manual Pallet Jack Safety

• Manual pallet jacks depend on the use of personal force to operate them. This includes loading the it properly, which is a critical safety aspect. In this case, the pallet should be the correct size for the forks of the jack being used. If the pallet is too wide or too long, the load on the pallet will be unstable during transport and will present a good chance for tipping or slipping off the pallet. Additionally, the load limitations for the jack must not be exceeded in order to avoid loss of control over the load as it is being moved.

  Moving the loaded pallet also requires safety and caution. A safe and steady rate of speed must be maintained at all times so that the operator can effectively handle the load. A manual jack can be moved either by pulling or pushing the load, but it is recommended that pushing is a safer technique when moving loads around corners or in areas where limited maneuvering room is available.

Electric Pallet Jack Safety

• Powered pallet jacks that use electricity to lift and move their loads are labor-saving devices that are used widely in many industries. According to the State Compensation Insurance Fund of California, safety tips for electric pallet jacks requires hands-on training to ensure that the operator has a good sense of the capabilities of the implement. Careful loading is required, as with any pallet jack. Gradual starts and stops are also recommended during operation to avoid load slippage.

  Special circumstances when using a powered pallet jack, such as moving through narrow aisles and going up and down inclined surfaces, also require careful attention during operation. The website Statefundca.com suggests that when using an elevator to transport a load, the pallet jack should proceed the operator into the elevator rather than backing in. Trucks and rail cars that are being loaded using an electric pallet jack must be blocked (chocked) to keep the vehicle from moving during loading.