Proper Use of Material Handling Equipment
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- Hand trucks, dollies, and pallet jacks exist to eliminate manual carrying. Use them — they are faster, safer, and cause less fatigue than hand-carrying heavy loads.
- Load hand trucks and dollies so the heaviest items are at the bottom and the load is balanced. An unbalanced load tips over, creating a struck-by and lifting hazard.
- Push rather than pull whenever possible. Pushing uses your body weight as leverage and reduces strain on the lower back compared to pulling.
- Inspect wheels, handles, and brakes before use. A hand truck with flat tires or a sticky wheel requires much more force to move, transferring that strain to your body.
- On ramps and slopes, keep the load uphill from you. Going down a ramp with a loaded hand truck, walk behind it and let it lead — never position yourself below a heavy load on a slope.
Ask the crew
Are we using the right material handling equipment for today's loads — or is anyone hand-carrying something that should go on a dolly?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
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