Material Handling

Many industries rely on efficient handling and storage of materials through diverse operations to function properly. A variety of tools/equipment is used to move, store, use, and dispose of materials. For example, in general, industry workplaces, the following operations may exist: hoisting materials with a crane, driving a truck loaded with products that may be hazardous due to physical or chemical characteristics, manually carrying bags or other types of containers filled with materials, and stacking drums, barrels, kegs, boxes, or loose items/products.

To help reduce potential accidents associated with workplace equipment, employees need to be trained in the proper use and limitations of the equipment they operate.” Employers and their employees need to know how to effectively use equipment such as conveyors, powered industrial trucks or forklifts, cranes, slings, and other materials handling equipment and how to identify and correct unsafe conditions, practices, and equipment to create a safer workplace.