Material Handing

Material Handing

General

1. Improper handing of material causes of injury. Most injuries are caused by simple and/or repetitive actions. Injuries as those could be avoided if employees gave full attention to the job they are performing.
2. Bruises, lacerations and puncture wounds to the extremities and strains and sprains to the back and other joints are the types of injuries encountered most frequently when handing material.
3. Before handling materials they should be checked for sharp edges, nails, slivers, sharp wire ends, ends, or other projections which might cause cuts or punctures.
4. Serviceable gloves and safety shoes should be worn when handling rough or heavy objects.
5. Hands and fingers must be kept away from “pinch” points when handling materials in order to avoid crushing injuries.
6. Sheets of glass, tin or other materials should not be carried under the arm. Gloves should be worn and the material should be carried with both hands.
7. If an object is heavy or bulky, its weight should be checked before moving it or before attempting to lift or carry it. If necessary, get help or use some sort of mechanical means for assistance.
8. When it is necessary to lift an object, the following practices should be followed:
   • face the object, place feet fairly close together and close to the object to be lifted .
   • bend the knees and squat by the object in a comfortable position. ( Do not stoop over it.)
   • get a firm, balanced grip on the object.
   • Keep the back straight and the arms as straight as possible. ( Do not twist the body .)
   • Lift the object by straightening the legs, while keeping the back straight( do not Jerk) .
   • Keep the object as close to the body as possible.

9. when it is necessary to move an object from one location to another, the following procedures should be followed:
   • Determine if it can be carried or lifted b tripping.
   • Insure there is a clear path of travel to avoid tripping hazards.
   • Insure the footing is safe.
   • Determine if there is a place to set the object down once lifted.
   • While carrying an object, avoid and walk carefully.
   • When setting an object, down, reverse the lifting procedure described in 8 above.

10. A heave object should not be carried onto or off a truck unless the truck deb. is flush with and against the dock or loading platform, a suitable deck or ramp is securely in place.
11. When carrying a large or heavy object one should never attempt to step up a high step. A ramp or skid should be used in this case.
12. Employees should always use care and caution when handing objects. Many items, harmless in themselves, can cause injury if improperly or thoughtlessly handled

 

Handling lumber

1. the handling of lumber, both new and used, is much more hazardous than it appears on the surface.
2. Gloves should always be worn when handling any type of lumber.
3. When lumber is being handled, particularly from scrap pile, employees should be alert for protruding nails, wires, snakes, and poisonous plants.
4. Protruding nails should always be removed from scrap lumber whether it is to used again or discarded. Bending nails over helps, but does not completely eliminate the hazard.
5. When handing lumber, a firm grip must be kept to minimize the lumber from slipping through ones hands which can cause injury.
6. Lifting large pieces of lumber which are water logged or extremely muddy can be a lifting hazard. Before they are be moved,  pry them loose and test lift them to determine if extra help is necessary.
7. Long pieces of lumber should not be carried by one person in congested areas even if the weight is not great. When long pieces are to be carried, that should be a two-man carry.
8. Full sheets of plywood or insulation (4’ x 8” pr larger ) are too large and awkward for one person to handle. When necessary to move such large material, another person is needed to do so safely.
9. If mechanical means are not available, long, heavy timbers should be carried  by at least two men. The men should lift, carry and lower on signal so that no one will be hurt.

 

Handing Pipe

1. Full joints of pipe, even in small sizes, should not be carried one man in congested areas. Someone should carry close to each end to prevent injury to others.
2. One end of a joint of pipe should never be dropped while someone is holding the other end. Always lay it down together.
3. The practice of two men carrying joints of pipe on their hips or shoulders is to be discouraged. The hands should be used instead.
4. The fingers should never be placed in the open ends of joint of pipe to move or carry it.
5. Gloves should be worn and extreme caution should be exercised when handing subs, pup joints and large fittings. Burrs, sharp threads and sharp edges are frequently present on these items.
6. Carrying bars with U-shaped recesses or grip-carrying tongs should be used to carry long pipe too large to be firmly gripped with one hand.
7. When long, heavy pipe is to moved, a sufficient number of workmen and tools should be provided to safely handle the load. The following procedures should be followed:
8. Perfect coordination of the crew is essential. A signalman, possibly one of the crew, should be selected and his signals should be understood and observed by all.
9. Before lifting, all crew members should squat to a lifting position, grasp the lifting tool firmly, and be prepared to lift on signal.
10. On signal, all crew members should lift together, straightening their knees, keeping backs straight keeping the carrying tools close to their bodies.
11. On signal, all crew members showed move smoothly together, avoiding sudden starts, stops or jerks.
12. At the appointed place, all crew men showed stop on signal and wait for the signal to lower.
13. On signal to lower, all crewmen should lower the load slowly, together, using their knees and keeping their backs straight.

 

Handling Drums

1.   When laying a full or partially filled drum on its side ,the following procedures showed be followed:
   • Determine if it can be carried or lifted b tripping.
   •  The drum should be faced, one foot placed against the bottom, legs spread apart with one foot back one-half step.
   • Reach to the far side of the drum and pull it toward one self.
   • When the drum is balanced, steady it with both hands and face it with feet spread a part.
   • Lower drum with both hands on the inner side of the top chime.
   • The back should be kept straight when lowering the drum.
   • Toes should be kept clear at all times
   • Roll drums by pushing, with hands on top change direction by gripping one chime and pulling back , then proceed to push with both hands on top. Do not kick or roll the drum with the feet.
   • When necessary to go down a skid or a slope, skid the drum endwise or use rope with the drum in a rolling position.
   • When moving a down up a skid or slope and power is not available, a snub rope should be used with one man puling and at least two men pushing.
2. To set a full or partially filled drum upright, the following procedures should be followed:
   • Stand close to end of drum with one foot directly in front and the other a little to the side.
   • Squat, keeping back straight, place hands about 8” apart under bottom chime.
   • Using legs and arms, raise drum to balance position.
   • Guide the drum to a standing position with both hands on the inner side of chime, on the near side.

 

Handling Sacked Materials

1. The proper position and action for lifting should be used at all times.
2. When sacked material has been lifting, stand erect and rest the sack against one hip and the abdomen. Walk carefully and balance the sack with the other hand.
3. To carry a sack on one’s should, it should be boosted onto the shoulder while in a standing position. One hand should be placed on the hip with the sack resting partially on one’s shoulder and partially on one’s arm. The sack needs to be balanced with the other hand.
4. When a sack must be put down, the reverse procedures for placing a sack on one’s should are to be followed. When lowering a sack to the ground, the knees should be bent with the back in a straightened position.
5. If building a pile, swing the sack forward to its proper place from either the  should or hip, depending on the height of the pile. De not attempt to heave or toss the sack.
6. Sacked material should always be properly “Crosstied” if piled more than two sacks high.
7. When handling cement, chemically treated mud or other materials that create excessive flying particles or dust, proper eye protection and dust masks should be worn.
8. When handling sacked material for prolonged periods employees should keep as much of the body covered as possible. Exposed parts of the body should be washed frequently to prevent chemical irritations and burns.

 

Handling Chemicals

1. Because of the many kinds and types of chemicals used in the Company’s operation, it is not feasible to detail the specific hazards involved and the safety precautions necessary to protect against them in this handbook. For information about many chemical uses, the supervisor should be contacted and he will be provided any information requested as it is found on the Materials Safety Data sheets (MSDS)
2. All containers of hazardous chemicals should be plainly labeled to properly identify their contents and warn against their dangers.
3. Employees should always know what chemicals they are using and the hazards associated with them. When in doubt, the supervisor should be contacted.
4. Chemical goggles, chemical gloves, proper respirators, and suitable body and clothing protection, as applicable, should worn when handling hazardous chemicals.
5. All chemical containers must be kept tightly closed when not in use and needs to be kept in a clean, away from excessive heat.
6. All chemical containers must have a safe means of removing the chemical without excessive splash, spray or other uncontrolled contamination of the surroundings.
7. When necessary to dilute a chemical with water, as a general rule, the chemical should always be put in the water. Water should not be added to the chemical. When diluting acid the acid should always be added to the water.
8. When it is necessary to mix chemicals, it should be done according to the manufacturer’s directions.
9. When a hazardous chemical is spilled, clean up procedures, found in the MSDS’s, are to be followed or as directed by the immediate supervisor.
10. Hazardous chemical to be disposed of must not be dumped into public sewer systems or into lines emptying into creeks or rivers. They shall be disposed of in safe manner, under the direction of a fully qualified person.

 

Handling Materials Power

1. All materials which are too large or too heavy to be safely handled by hands should be handled by power-operated equipment.
2. When power-operated equipment is available, it should be used on large or extended jobs of handling small materials. This can usually be done with a saving of time and increased safety.
3. All pipe, larger or heavier then 4” line pipe, should be handled by power equipment, except in specific spotting or stabbing operations.
4. All basic power-operated equipment including winches, drums cable, blocks, safety hooks, slings, etc., must be inspected in accordance with applicable regulations and be kept in good operating condition at all times.
5. Ties slings, bridles, etc., must be of proper size and strength for the load to be lifted and needs to be securely fastened to the load.
6. If the operator cannot clearly see every part of the operation to be performed, he should have a signalman assist him.
7. When a signalman is used, he must be in a position to see every phase of the operation and be clearly seen by the operator.
8. Any signal which might possibly be required must be thoroughly understood by both the operator and signalman.
9. Workmen must never get under a suspended load.
10. If it is necessary to guide a load, guide lines of sufficient length for complete safety of the workmen must be used.
11. When loading material with a winch line, workmen should stay far enough away to avoid injury if line should fail.
12. When handling material by use of a “come-along,” good judgment must be used to avoid sudden movement or shock which would put undue strain on the equipment.