28 Jan Hand Truck Safety – Safe Use of Hand Trucks

Hand Truck Safety – Safe Use of Hand Trucks

Hand Truck Safety – Safe Use of Hand Trucks helps prevent strains, crushed fingers and toes, falling loads, and other material-handling injuries. Hand trucks can reduce the physical effort required to move heavy, bulky, or awkward materials, but they must be properly selected, loaded, and controlled.

Select the Right Hand Truck

Before moving a load, make sure the hand truck is appropriate for the material and work environment.

• Use a hand truck designed for the type, size, and weight of the load.
• Never exceed the manufacturer’s rated capacity.
• Inspect the hand truck before use.
• Check the wheels, tires, axle, frame, handles, and toe plate for damage or excessive wear.
• Remove damaged or defective equipment from service until repaired or replaced.
• Use specialized hand trucks when needed for stairs, cylinders, drums, appliances, or other unusual loads.

Load the Hand Truck Properly

An improperly loaded hand truck can become unstable or difficult to control.

• Place heavier items at the bottom of the load.
• Position the load so its weight is centered and balanced over the wheels or axle.
• Keep the load against the frame of the hand truck.
• Do not stack materials so high that they obstruct your view.
• Stagger or interlock boxes when practical to improve stability.
• Secure bulky, awkward, or unstable materials with straps or other suitable restraints.
• Make sure containers and packaging are strong enough to withstand movement.
• Never attempt to move a load that cannot be safely balanced or controlled.

Plan the Route

Inspect your route before moving the load.

Look for:

• Slippery or uneven surfaces.
• Debris and other trip hazards.
• Doorways and narrow passages.
• Pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
• Ramps, slopes, and changes in elevation.
• Stairs or curbs.
• Overhead or side clearances.

Make sure there is sufficient room to maneuver the hand truck safely from the starting point to the destination.

Moving the Load

Maintain control of the hand truck throughout the move.

• Tilt the loaded hand truck carefully into the balanced travel position.
• Keep both hands on the handles when practical.
• Maintain a safe, controlled speed.
• Keep hands, fingers, feet, and other body parts away from pinch and crush points.
• Slow down when approaching corners, doorways, ramps, or congested areas.
• Maintain clear visibility in the direction of travel.
• Do not make sudden turns or stops that could shift the load.
• Never ride on a hand truck or allow another person to ride on it.
• Keep adequate clearance between your hands and walls, doorframes, racks, and other fixed objects.

Do not allow the weight or momentum of the load to exceed your ability to safely control it.

Pushing and Pulling

Whenever practical and appropriate for the equipment and conditions, pushing may provide better visibility and body positioning than pulling. However, the safest direction depends on the hand truck, load, terrain, and manufacturer’s instructions.

Avoid walking backward whenever possible. If the load must be pulled or maneuvered backward, check the travel path carefully and maintain control.

Ramps and Slopes

Loads can become significantly more difficult to control on an incline.

• Approach ramps slowly.
• Keep the load under control at all times.
• Never allow a loaded hand truck to roll freely down a slope.
• Do not turn sharply on an incline.
• Obtain assistance when the weight or slope makes the load difficult to control.
• Follow manufacturer instructions for moving loads on ramps or stairs.

Do not attempt to move a hand truck on stairs unless the equipment is specifically designed for stair use.

Prevent Hand and Foot Injuries

Pinched fingers, crushed hands, and foot injuries are common material-handling hazards.

• Keep hands inside the handles and away from fixed objects.
• Never place your hands underneath an unsecured load.
• Keep feet clear when setting the hand truck upright or lowering a load.
• Wear appropriate work gloves when handling materials with sharp, rough, or abrasive surfaces.
• Wear required protective footwear when there is a risk of foot injury from falling or rolling materials.

Parking and Storage

When the job is complete:

• Unload the hand truck safely.
• Return it to its designated storage location.
• Never leave a hand truck in an aisle, doorway, exit route, stairway, or other travel path.
• Store it so that it cannot roll, tip, or fall.
• Report damaged equipment before returning it to storage.

Remember

A hand truck is intended to reduce manual handling—not create another hazard. Select the right equipment, balance and secure the load, inspect your route, maintain control, and get assistance when a load cannot be safely moved.