Pallet Jacks Can Jack Up The Pain

A pallet jack may not be the most hazardous piece of equipment in your workplace, but it can quickly cause an injury.

Crushed toes, scraped knuckles and pulled backs are the most common injuries associated with manual pallet jacks. Tripping hazards are also a problem when these devices are improperly stored.

Keep these tips in mind for preventing injuries when using pallet jacks:

• Never place your feet under the device.
• Have someone guide the load if your view is obstructed.
• Never exceed a pallet jack's load capacity.
• Don't use a pallet jack for human transportation.
• Push, don't pull, the device when going down an incline.
• Stick to correct traffic lanes, and be alert to avoid collisions around corners.
• Be aware of pinch-point hazards involving your hands.
• Store pallet jacks where they will not create tripping hazards. Do not block exits or emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers.
• Use proper lifting techniques when loading and unloading.

Proper PPE

Employees who work with pallet jacks need to wear appropriate personal protective equipment. For example, safety-toed footwear can prevent foot injuries caused by being run over by the wheels, being hit by materials falling from the jack or stubbing a toe on the jack.

Gloves can reduce cuts, bruises and blisters, and safety eyewear can prevent injuries from material strapping and hazardous chemicals being moved.

Wear and tear

Over long periods of time, the solid rubber wheels of pallet jacks can develop wear, resulting in unstable loads and poor handling. In turn, workers can experience stress to the hands and arms because of difficulty steering and stopping the device.

Provide periodic maintenance of pallet jacks so they can operate with the minimum amount of hand, arm and finger force.

Pallet jack operators should also keep floors well maintained. Check for ruts, bumps and other imperfections that could result in increased body vibration when handling materials.

Pallet maintenance

Maintaining your pallets in good condition may sound trivial, but it's not. Using a damaged or defective pallet can have serious consequences. For example, it can cause a load to shift and fall, resulting in injury. That's why it's important to inspect your pallets before use.

You might take your humble little pallet jack for granted, but the minute you do is the minute a painful injury can occur.