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Posted By Debbie S
Can anyone help with a query that we have on pulling and pushing of manual hand pallet trucks that can take weights up to 1500kg
I have read through the manual handling regs and they suggest that the force required to pull or push something with a lifting aid(e.g. pallet truck) is at least 2% of the load weight if on a flat, level surface. So if you have a load that weighs 400kg the force required to move the load is 8kg. If something weighs 1,000kg the force is 20kg.
I know there is no hard and fast rule and that there is no 'safe' manual handling operation but am I right or wrong in saying that as guidance an average man, on a flat level surface should be able to pull or push about 750kg or is it higher than this.
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Posted By David Whaley
Debbie,
The 2% you quote is for perfect conditions. For an 'off the cuff' figure I would go for 10%. The only real way is to measure it, a spring balance will do the job. I am fortunate in having an electronic version. By measuring you know what effort is required. Don't forget when doing the assessment you have to take into account the number of times the operation is carried out per day, is the operative using one hand or two, distance the load has to be moved, are they pushing or pulling, the physical capability of the operative. The list goes on and on. If you need any further information send me an email.
David
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Posted By Debbie S
Dave
Thanks for that - the small problem that we have is IBC's (1000ltr) that we sometimes have to move with pump trucks from the back of a lorry (level surface) onto a tailift, then dropped off at ground level.
Its not done all day every day - we move about 2000 consignments a day on 130 vehicles of which 10 will be IBC's. 99% of consignments weigh less than 500kg.
The simple solution would be to purchase spring balance - any ideas of price etc.
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Posted By David Whaley
Debbie,
We use pallet trucks for moving IBCs, I have tried it myself on a wooden floor, not recommended. Whenever possible we now use a fork lift truck or an electric pallet truck.
However, the spring balance,(Tension and Compression Tester) I had one that came from Salter. Try a search on their web site they may still make them.
David
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Debbie S
Dave
Its frustrating as most of the goods are taken off by FLT but occassionally we have to make a delivery to a premises that hasn't got one (which we don't know until we get there) - hence the manual handling bit.
I have e-mailed Salter for some info on spring balances - thanks for the advise
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Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Debbie
The root difficulty is not the absence of 'a hard and fast rule' but the non-existence of 'an average man' (or woman) and the wide variability of task demands.
The ergonomic science approach is to specify maximum loads (kg.) in terms of population percentiles (further classified in five ranges) and tasks of varying demands.
The relevant research is written up for relative ease of use in: 'A Guide to Manual Materials Handling', A Mital, A S Nicholson and M M Ayoub, 2nd edition, CRC Press, 1997
That will enable you to provide a sufficiently clear checklist to employees to safeguard them from injury in so far as practicable and the company from liability in the event of an injury
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