Do’s & Don’t and Know why material handling safety is important in your workplace, safety during storage and transport. .... It is sharing of knowledge. By Bimal Chandra Das, Rtd. AGM (Safety), Bokaro Steel Plant,/ Bokaro. Kolkata

1. Safety During MATERIAL HANDLING
• Is a technique employed to move, transport, store, distribute materials with or
without the aid of mechanical appliances.
• Is getting the right goods safely to the right place at the right time at the right cost.
• Is the art & science of moving, packaging, and storing of substances in any form.
MATERIAL HANDLING
Contribution
Labour Cost : 20 to 80 %
Product Cost : 36 %
Manufacturing Cost : 33 %
Accidents : 40 %
Material Handled : 50 to 100 T/T of final product
MATERIAL HANDLING TYPES
• Manual
• Mechanical
• Material on machines
• Material in Stores
• Transportation
MANUAL MATERIAL HANDLING
Section 34/Factories Act & Bihar Factories Rules 58
Persons : Maxm.wt
Adult Male : 55 Kg
Adult Female : 30 Kg
Adolescent Male : 30 Kg
Adolescent Female : 20 Kg
Male child : 16 Kg
Female child : 13 Kg
Pregnant woman : 18.5 Kg
(till 7 months of pregnancy
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2. MANUAL HANDLING
Steps in Safe Lifting
• Keep back straight
• Tuck chin in
• Firm grip
• Load close to body
• Body weight directly over feet
• Take help for heavy loads
• Group of almost same height persons
• One man to signal & coordinate
MECHANICAL HANDLING TYPES
• Trucks, Tractor, Forklift
• Chain, sling, pulley block
• Crane, Conveyor, Hoist, lift
• Pipe line – pumps
Mechanical Handling Safe Operating Procedure
• Avoid overloading & improper angle of lift
• Avoid faulty hookup & impact load
• Save equipment from wear, abrasion and distortion
• Use slings of proper size, length & capacity
• Do not use damaged slings / substitutes / knots or bolts
• Do not expose lifting tackle to heat
• Keep a safe angle between sling arms
• Balance load with a little lift and then give full movement
• Allow no one under suspended load
• Signaling by one man
Gas Cylinders
• Do not drag, drop or rub against each other (take care while unloading)
• Use wheel-barrow for transportation
• Never handle without valve safety cap or ring
• Always consider a cylinder to be full
• Never store in the sun or near heat
• Do not lift by magnet or rope. Use a box or two ropes apart
• Store Empty & Full cylinders separately
Safety In Belt Conveyors
• Gangway along length is a must (No spillage or accumulation)
• Avoid overloading conveyors
• Have an emergency exit clear
• Put guards on moving parts
(Head end and Tail end)
• Install pull chords for emergency
• Ensure earthing and bonding of all roller and metal structures
• Never wear loose clothing
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3. Truck Transportation
• Keep speed always within limits
• Material should be evenly stacked
• Secure loads with no chance of falling, slipping or sliding by sudden jerks or brakes
• Avoid passengers along with load as the load may shift and fall on them
• Always check load before starting
• Avoid load protruding out of truck
• Speed should be slow and steady
Summary
• Asses property & weight of material to be handled
• Check equipment, safe working load
• Assess people's age, sex ,physical condition and environment
• Search for potential hazards
• Share knowledge with team members
• Always be on lookout for external factors not considered
• Give adequate margin of Safety
Remember : You are responsible for the safety of yourself and all under you.
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