How can a Pallet Inverter Help You and Your Business?

A pallet inverter can be a rather expensive piece of equipment, but it can be an incredibly helpful piece of equipment as well. These big machines are hard workers, and can be used in a surprising number of ways, for industries that may surprise you. Is a pallet inverter right for you and your business? … Read more

German Hoist Company Provides Lift for Blockbuster Vegas Project

JD Neuhas, the German-based manufacturer of lifts and cranes, has been selected to provide three air-operated hoists to power a 550-foot tall ferris wheel currently being constructed on the Las Vegas Strip. Known as the Las Vegas High Roller, Sin City’s newest attraction will be the world’s tallest ferris wheel and will have 28 viewing … Read more

Operator of the Year Contest Promotes Workplace Safety

A contest that recognizes safe and productive workplace practices has resulted in fewer accidents and an overall improvement in workplace safety, according to the contest’s sponsor, Toyota Material Handling UK. Since 2008, the company has been motivating employers and training organizations to improve the safety and efficiency of the workplace by sponsoring the RTITB Operator … Read more

Avoiding Back Injuries in the Workplace, Part 3

Editor’s Note: This is the third and final installment of a special report on avoiding back injuries, the most common workplace injury.

Avoiding workplace injuriesThe best way to avoid injuring your back while lifting is to avoid lifting whenever possible. Using carts and dollies, rather than your legs and back, is the best way to transport heavy objects without lifting them. Pushing a cart is always easier than pulling it. And using cranes, hoists and lift tables to get the heavy objects onto the transport vehicles will also reduce excess back stress.

Proper Lifting Procedures Explained

While you probably can’t always avoid any lifting in the workplace, you can improve your chances of avoiding a back injury if you follow the proper lifting procedures in order to minimize the amount of pressure you place on your lower back.

The first thing to remember is to always bend at the knees. This allows your spine to maintain its natural “S” shape, so you essentially eliminate the fulcrum/lever principle that occurs when your back acts as a crane, rather than allowing your legs to do the work.

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Avoiding Back Injuries in the Workplace, Part 2

How to Avoid Back InjuriesEditor’s Note: This is the second of three special reports on avoiding back injuries, the most common workplace injury.

Improperly lifting a heavy object or accidentally twisting while carrying a heavy load aren’t the only ways to suffer a back injury while at work. Painful back injuries also can be caused by slips and falls, tripping over obstacles, and improperly using moving equipment such as manual jacks and dollies.

Besides the physical environment of the workplace, there are other factors that also can contribute to back injuries, including:

  • Being Out of Shape — Back muscles require strong stomach muscles to provide proper support. If your stomach muscles are weak or flabby, you may be more likely to suffer a back injury.
  • Poor Posture — Your spine has a natural “S” shape that is optimal for support weight while lifting. When you lean forward when you sit, hunch over when you  are standing or otherwise have poor posture, this can weaken the spine over time.
  • Being Overweight — Carrying additional weight on your body can add to the weight-to-force fulcrum proportion when you lift heavy objects because your body weight is also being supported by your back.
  • Stress and Anxiety — Being stressed out causes muscle tension, making them more susceptible to injury.

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German Materials Handling Company to Unveil Intralogistic Solutions

Jungheinrich, a German-based materials handling and forklift manufacturer, announced Monday that at an upcoming trade show it would be unveiling a new business model that could reduce materials handling fleet operating costs by up to 20%. During the Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution Show — scheduled for September 18 and 19, in Peterborough Arena in Cambridgeshire, … Read more

Avoiding Back Injuries in the Workplace, Part 1

Avoiding back injuries in the workplaceEditor’s Note: This is the first of a special three-part special report on avoiding back injuries, the most common workplace injury.

Anyone who has suffered back injury can tell you how painful and debilitating they can be. They tend to take a long time to heal and often can lead to further back problems months or even years later.

They also account for one out of every five workplace injury, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Back injuries can cause an employee to miss work and lose wages, but they also can cost an employer in lost productivity and in workman’s compensation claims. In fact, approximately 20% of all workmen’s comp claims are due to workers suffering back injuries.

So there is a benefit to both employees and management to avoiding back injuries whenever possible.

Under Pressure

Most people know that you should always lift with your legs, bending your knees when picking up a heavy object, but have you ever considered why this is the case? The amount of force you put on your back when you don’t bend your knees can be tremendous.

Think of your back as a fulcrum in a lever system. Because it isn’t centered, bending at the waist causes you to have a 10:1 weight-to-force ratio. In other words, lifting an object that weighs only 10 lbs. actually puts about 100 lbs. of pressure on your lower back. So any type of repetitive lifting and bending from the waist can quickly result in a back injury.

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New Dock Door Design Can Prevent Rain From Leaking Into Your Warehouse

Pentalift, a Buffalo, New York, based manufacturer of dock and warehouse equipment, recently unveiled a new type of dock door that can prevent rain from entering into the dock area. The RS800 RainStop seal uses a stiffly sprung 5.5-inch foam filled header curtain to create a positive seal on the top of the trailer. The … Read more

Reduce Accidents in the Workplace with Safety Equipment

One of the keys to creating an efficient and productive workplace is by controlling the flow of traffic. City streets and public highways are regulated by traffic laws, stop lights, stop signs, speed limit signs and other safety equipment in order to maintain order and minimize accidents. That same type of control can be applied to your workplace.

safety equpimentWhile there may not be a flow of cars and trucks across your warehouse or work yard floor, other vehicles such as forklifts, golf carts, power jacks and even manual pallet jacks pose a potential collision of crushing danger if not properly supervised and managed. One of the best ways to get your employees to follow the pathways you determine is to use traffic control equipment.

Slow Down Traffic, Increase Safety

For example, something as simple as traffic cones could be used to indicate areas where power equipment should not be used, such as places with narrow passage ways or delicate inventory. Chain barricades can be used to designate areas where employees are allowed to walk so that they won’t be in danger of being run over by equipment operators.

Even speed bumps can be installed to create slow zones or to prevent operators from going to fast. Speed bumps are now available in a variety of heights and materials — including some that are made from 100% recycled plastics — so that you can help protect the environment while promoting workplace safety.

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Optimizing Labor in a Warehouse or Work Yard

Today more than ever, every penny counts. So reducing costs as much as possible needs to be among warehouse management’s top priority. That’s why it can be so infuriating to see workers idling or being unproductive while on the clock. Every dollar wasted on non-productive labor ultimately gets passed on to the consumer in the form … Read more