There are five main types of pallet jack operation that causes damage or injuries to freight or operators: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The risks can be reduced by ensuring your team has had electric pallet jack training<\/a> and manual handling training<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A pallet jack has a stability triangle, just like a forklift. If the centre of gravity moves outside the stability triangle, either the pallet jack will start to tip, the goods will fall off, or both. The causes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even a manual pallet jack can be capable of carrying 2500kg. The operator must manage the speed of the pallet jack as it takes energy to stop or turn it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An electric pallet jack plus load can weigh over three tonnes, meaning impacts can cause a lot of damage, particularly where that inertia is concentrated in the tips of the forks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Operators sometimes take risks and use machinery in ways in which it shouldn’t be used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The operator often has to manually lift items on and off the pallet jack, and manual handling injuries<\/a> are common in warehouses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Operators should avoid any type of mechanical or electrical fix of a pallet jack unless they are fully trained in how to repair them. Injuries can occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find more of these accidents here<\/a>, some of which can be managed by first aid training<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employee was struck in the head by a falling pallet jack battery and is killed through blunt force trauma. The employee was trying to dislodge the pallet truck battery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Employee fell backwards off a semitrailer while loading it at Avalon Transportation. The pallet jack rolled backwards off the semitrailer, landing on his torso and crushing him to death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employee fractured his leg in two places while riding on a pallet jack. He jumped off and his leg was caught between racking and the pallet jack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employee in Aldi, UK, fractured all toes on one foot<\/a>, losing two to surgical amputation and his foot having to be restructured using pins. Aldi was fined \u00a31m.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIncidents caused by tipping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Incidents caused by excess speed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Incidents caused by impacts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Incidents caused by reckless driving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Manual handling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Other potential dangers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Examples of accidents resulting in injury or death<\/h2>\n\n\n\n