Section 3 SummerWinds Forklift Training Manual

FORKLIFT SAFETY TRAINING MANUAL • LESSON 3 • MATERIAL HANDLING

LESSON 3 of 4 Material Handling

Lesson 3 • Page 31

FORKLIFT SAFETY TRAINING MANUAL • LESSON 3 • MATERIAL HANDLING

Material Handling Introduction

The objective of material handling is to move, store, separate and handle material in a safe, efficient and productive manner which reduces: 1. Material handling costs 2. Production costs of the materials big handled 3. Property damage, wasted time 4. Injury and accident costs Safe, efficient, productive material handling increases: 1. Production capacity 2. Morale, cooperation, professionalism 3. Profits of the organization The company has and will continue to analyze the current material handling techniques and procedures to eliminate wasted time, effort and costs. In addition, SummerWinds is analyzing the material handling efforts to eliminate unsafe acts and conditions. As a forklift operator you will have intimate knowledge of what's happening, share your assistance and recommendations of the forklift operators. It is important that you provide input as an operator in the planning phase of new space layouts, new procedures or new methods of operations. As an operator you will want to help analyze the material handling operations, the following checklist of inefficiencies , will help you to keep operations safe. A Material Handling Checklist (next page) is a list of indicators that help in determining the effectiveness of the forklift safety program and safe operations. The checklist is to be completed when/if work is stopped due to any of these conditions. Correction is required before operation of the forklift. If the answers to any of these questions are YES, investigate, that portion, correct the situation and/or institute improvements to ensure safe operations. Proper material handling is essential to safe operation of a forklift, do not operate a forklift before correcting any unsafe conditions.

Lesson 3 • Page 32

FORKLIFT SAFETY TRAINING MANUAL • LESSON 3 • MATERIAL HANDLING

SW Location: __________________ Date: _____________ Name:

Material Handling Checklist

Item

YES NO* *NOTES / Corrective action taken:

1. Poor housekeeping (trash, dirty floors, tools adrift, etc.) 2. Crowded conditions, aisles blocked. 3. Empty floor space (poor utilization of space). 4. Too much 'temporary' storage. Items improperly stored because no space has been allotted for certain materials/ merchandise. 5. Materials piled directly on floor. Non-palletized, non-containerized. (Results in excessive damage and handling costs.) 6. Wasted cube. Storage space wasted by not utilizing full height of floor space. 7. Damaged equipment, facilities, materials. 8. Equipment operators must maneuver excessively, making long (unnecessary) trips, traffic jams. 9. Excessive manual labor. Reduce labor costs and accident with equipment. 10. Wrong equipment for the job (i.e. 10,000-lb. capacity forklift to lift 500-lb. loads). 11. Ineffective utilization of equipment. Use of attachments on forklifts to reduce time, labor and increase productivity. 12. No logical flow of traffic or materials. 13. Excessive pedestrian traffic around pallet jacks and forklift equipment 14. Employee accidents and injuries. 15. Too much equipment. (Many times, safety and efficiency can be increased by reducing the amount of equipment being used.)

Lesson 3 • Page 33

FORKLIFT SAFETY TRAINING MANUAL • LESSON 3 • MATERIAL HANDLING

Importance of Housekeeping Housekeeping is a word everyone uses to mean sloppy, lazy, indifferent, lack of discipline, and just plain lazy. Material handling and unorganized poor housekeeping can cause many problems. Improved housekeeping consciousness to help provide a safe working area can be improved in the following ways: 1. Floors must be kept clean, non-slip and free of trash, debris, broken pallets, cardboard and other hazards. Note: You must have an organized and supervised system between janitors, employees, supervisors and sweepers to ensure this does occur. 3. Repair faulty equipment that is dripping oil fluids on the floor. Position absorbent materials to clean up oil/ fluid leaks throughout the area for use by anyone observing a spill. 4. Provide sufficient containers for trash , scrap and other unwanted materials. For oily rags, use metal containers with metal tops. 5. For all departments, brooms, mops, squeegees, tools and other small equipment must be properly stored to prevent employee tripping over these hazards. 2. Provide adequate lighting . If you as an operator has difficulty seeing it may cause accidents.

6. Special attention must be devoted to keeping locker rooms, restrooms, lunchrooms, and offices clean and sanitary . Sufficient supplies should be available (toilet paper, hand towels, rags soap, etc.).

7. Have an effective rodent and pest control program.

8. Perimeter and outside areas must be kept clean and surfaces free from holes or other hazards .

9. Clearly defined aisles walkways must be kept clean and well lighted.

10. Enforce rules, encourage teamwork among all employees and supervisors to keep areas clean and in a safe condition.

Lesson 3 • Page 34

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