The Pallet Truck is one of the most popular items of equipment in warehouses and industrial facilities in Malaysia. They are sometimes the cause of many injuries and incidents in the job if the operator is not properly trained. Pallet trucks are incredibly simple to use and require just basic instruction. Accidents can still occur as a consequence of various mitigating variables, the most significant of which being compliance with safety laws. Follow these easy guidelines to ensure the safe use of pallet trucks in the workplace:

Make sure the truck is in good condition.

Always check the pallet truck before using it; look for any signs of severe wear and tear and ensure that the hydraulics used to lift and lower the forks are in excellent working condition. It’s occasionally a good idea to have a second set of eyes go over the truck in case you missed something.

Acknowledge the load limit.

For a reason, most pallet trucks have a load limitation (which should be clearly written on the side). This maximum capacity, which can range between 2500kg and above, should not be overlooked. Overloading a pallet truck can cause it to overbalance and tip over, causing damage to the surrounding equipment or potentially injuring another worker. How can this be avoided? Weigh beams or use a weighing scale to assure trucks are not overloaded.

Keep away of ramps.

Pallet truck handlers often avoid moving big loads up or down inclines to maintain the truck (and the load) safely balanced at all situations. If you are unable to avoid a ramp at your workplace, maintain the load ahead of the operator when moving uphill to ensure that the load is distributed. Remember to maintain the forks about 4 – 6 inches above the ground to avoid catching while entering or exiting the ramp.

Press your brakes.

Some newer pallet trucks include brakes to guarantee a safe stop. Others, on the other hand, must be physically stopped. If this is the case, make sure you have enough of stopping distance while slowing down, and pick a stopping spot that is distant from any people. Pallet trucks have momentum when carrying loads, therefore slowing down may take some time and distance!

Not push but pull.

Pallet trucks, despite what people think, need to be pushed. In fact, it’s always better to pull weights on a flat surface to provide the operator more mobility. There are additional advantages, such as the ability for the operator to monitor for hazards ahead, such as pedestrians. Pushing from behind the weight may be exhausting, and the operator can’t see behind the load for possible risks like objects on the floor or obstructions that the forks could snag on.

Safely store.

Once the load has been taken from the pallet truck, make sure the forks are lowered and not facing outward at an angle, which might pose a danger. Always keep the truck in the proper storage space – if this is not possible, ensure that the pallet truck is as near to a wall as possible and that the forks are not pointing into any corridors or pathways.

Now that you understand how to use a pallet truck properly, you may go through our collection of pallet trucks, sack trucks, and other heavy lifting equipment to find a model that meets your needs.