Month: August 2013

10 Tips to Make Moving Day Easier

by

moving suppliesWhether you are moving into a new house or apartment, taking your son or daughter to college, or moving your business to a new location, moving day can be a stressful experience.

If you are doing the moving yourself, the most important thing is to get all of your possessions to where they are going safely and with as little breakage as possible. Here are the Top 10 Tips to help make your moving day go more smoothly:

1. Protect your furniture from nicks and scratches by wrapping it in a stretch wrap. A single large roll usually is enough to cover every major piece of furniture you own.

2. If you can get into your new space before your possessions arrive, pre-clean your bathrooms and kitchen first. Put up a new shower curtain and bring some bath towels so you can enjoy a hot shower after the hard work of moving is over.

3. Pack the essentials — such as soap, dishwashing liquid, shampoo and toilet paper — into an overnight bag and carry it with you. That way you won’t have to search through boxes for the items you need right away.

Read more

New Packaging Paper Can Interact with Customers’ Smart Phones

by

Like something out of a science fiction movie, a new type of specialized paper used for product packaging now has the ability to interact with customers via their smart phones or tablets. The energized paper, called Powercoat, allows for the seamless integration of printed electronics and printed graphics, according to Jose-Anne d’Auvergne, brand manager for … Read more

Operator of the Year Contest Promotes Workplace Safety

by

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

What to Look for in a Pair of Work Gloves

by

Work gloves are one of those things that many people take for granted, but when it comes time to buy a new pair, what sort of qualities differentiate a good, durable pair from a bad pair of work gloves?

various types of work glovesPrice is not always the best indicator of quality. There are many expensive work gloves that offer poor protection, aren’t made of the best quality materials, and won’t last as long as many more affordable work gloves. So don’t expect to get the best just because you paid the most.

How Will the Work Gloves Be Used?

When considering which work gloves to buy, it’s important to think about how you will be using them:

  • What sort of substances will you be handling?
  • Are there any specialized hazards you may be facing (such as open wiring, wet conditions, etc.)
  • What will be the contact duration and how will it occur?
  • Are there any physical details of the wearer that need to be considered (such as hand size, allergies, deformities and so on)?

Work gloves, such as those offered by Bahrns, are available in both natural and synthetic materials. While some work gloves are designed to prevent the wearer from coming into contact with harmful substances, in some cases the gloves themselves may be harmful to the wearer, such as when they are the incorrect size or are made of a material to which the wearer is allergic.

Read more

Avoiding Back Injuries in the Workplace, Part 3

by

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.

Read more

Want to Cut Electricity Costs? Mitsubishi May Be Able to Help

by

Mitsubishi Electric Automation announced this week that it is teaming up with Powerit Solutions to help manufacturing businesses identify ways to reduce their electricity costs and achieve corporate sustainability goals. With energy costs rising, practically every materials handling and manufacturing company is looking for was to reduce their electrical usage. The two companies plan to … Read more

New Report Tells Material Handling Industry To Cut Energy Usage

by

A report released this week by a materials handling industry advisory council provided ideas on why and how companies can  reduce their energy consumption. The report — issued by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise (NISE) — was based on a two-day workshop the group hosted for 31 energy and materials handling … Read more

Avoiding Back Injuries in the Workplace, Part 2

by

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.

    Read more

German Materials Handling Company to Unveil Intralogistic Solutions

by

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

Materials Handling Planning Book Can Streamline Efficiency

by

Using a single binder to keep track of all the details of an automation project can help provide a central record of all the various decisions and details that went into the complicated process, according to the editor of a popular online materials handling website. Cliff Holste, of SCDigest, said he has had great success … Read more