Hi all

We are having a discussion about pushing or pulling pallet trucks

Some say you must  push some say pull.

The arrea we are taking about is a smooth surface, pallets trucks are not overloaded and opererate withing the SWL

Thoughts?

Pushing loads is always preferable to pulling because it puts less strain on the lower back, you have your body weight behind it, you are facing forward and can see where you are going, and it won't run over your feet. For experienced handlers of pallet trucks steering is not a problem, but inexperienced handlers may struggle at first. Like driving a forklift, it takes training and practice. Of course only on level ground.

Originally Posted by: AcornsConsult

Haaving written about pulling tending to be an easier means of control, I also agree with Dave5705 in terms of back problems.  Of course, pushing an unmanageable truck could also be the cause of additional injury.  Again, short distances may be a factor as well as the maintenance and serviceability can come into it.

I think you have answered your own question there; if the truck is unmanageable the operator should not be pushing it. Manual Handling 101. If loads are so heavy you should find a way to control that, either smaller loads (best) or power assist on the pallet truck. Problem is, human nature knows it is easier to pull, so if the load is too heavy to push and they know no better, the operator will automatically try pulling. You need to stop that behaviour somehow. If you control the loads, you remove some of the danger, and remember, changing direction and twisting while pulling pose even more hazard. Generally, if the load is too heavy to push easily, then it's too heavy period. Also consider differences in age, personal physical ability and birth gender. I would argue that distance is less of an issue, as most injuries occur when starting the load moving and stopping it (fighting inertia)

Edited by user 17 January 2019 06:36:46(UTC)  | Reason: addition

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Horses dont push carts Tractors rarely push trailers Cars TOW caravans The only time I pushed a pallet truck was during manoeuvring the load to its resting place or placing the truck under the load - all other times it was pulled between point A and point B as this was easier to control direction with the steering wheels at the front of the travel direction.

Not the best analogy (but I get your train of thought). With the greatest of respect: 

Its true, pulling is easier in that it doesn't require the same level of skill to get the load to follow your path, it will toe in behind you wherever you take it.

But you are not a machine designed for pulling loads. The tractor and car were conceptualised, specified, designed and engineered from the ground up by many of the best qualified brains they could gather together in the "Peoples Center for the Creation of Excellence in All Things" in Beijing, (or in our case, two chaps in a corrugated tin hut somewhere near Bromley) to achieve the specific aim of carrying and moving large amounts of weight from A to B, and  is fitted with a tow hitch designed to spread the loading forces onto the best-bearing structural parts of the vehicle, equally around a strong chassis.

You are a bipedal descendant of a soft-bodied sea cucumber with a skeleton and muscle structure evolved through chance mutation to perform one function, which is to support your belly off the ground enabling movement to avoid the fangs of the Sabre-Toothed Tiger while impressing the girls hanging out around the waterhole with the ultimate aim of having a great time with Delia on Friday night thus continuing the human race (ok two functions). Our limbs were never designed to cope with great amounts of tension, or pull anything. 

Great tortures over the centuries often involved hanging on walls, stretching on a rack, being drawn through streets by our arms or some other painful appendage. Never to my knowledge did Vlad the Impaler ever say to his terrified prisoner.."Right you little (insert nominal of your choice), I'll make you tell me your secrets, I'm going to push really hard on your palms, let's see how you like that!

Technically, a horse pushes a cart, in that it pushes into a horse collar and chest strap tied to the breech bars fastened to the cart.  All its limbs and back are in compression. The fact that the cart is located behind them does not mean they are pulling it, the collar is pulling it, they are pushing the collar.

I'm sure there are many examples of something being easier but not necessarily being good for you.

That's why you should not pull heavy loads, but we all do because it's 'easier'.

Thank you thank you, I'm here all week :-)

Quick sweep of the web by this bipedal descendant of a sea cucumber reveals operating manuals describe use of the lfiting system but pass no comment regarding pushing or pulling.

Where comment appears for pushing this is from "safety professionals" describing back injuries and the mechanics of the human body - ergonomics in the evolution of industrial history is a fairly recent event

If we follow the mantra of PUWER and operate in accordance with manufacturer instruction we pull:

https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/about-us/news-and-editorials/how-to-operate-a-hand-pallet-truck-safely/

Granted, that's what it says in the instructions. Clearly, if you can pull the truck easily walking beside it with one hand on the bar as instructed in the Toyota instructions then you would not be in any danger of hurting yourself. I was just thinking back.

I used to regularly be told to shift pallets of bricks weighing up to a metric tonne, that is when you can hurt yourself. Knowing what I know now I would have refused, but as a younger lad I just didn't question it. We soon learned to push them because pulling them would often strain a shoulder or elbow joint and you soon knew about it.

If it gained momentum and you tripped or you suddenly had to stop, it would crush you if you were in front of it. Also, you can really hurt yourself if you grab the bar with one hand and pull expecting it to move and it doesn't.

Of course these days a pallet would not weigh that much, maybe it's not such a concern now. But I stand by what I said, I think pushing is safer; you use your leg muscles and your torso is straight. Pulling with one hand means you are already half twisted.

Right, I was going to have a cucumber sandwich, but I might be related to it.....