Is it better to push or pull a pallet jack?

Are you new in an industrial company? You are not sure if whether is it better to push or pull a pallet jack? Look no further because this article will take you to the steps of what to do and not to when using a pallet jack.

Or are your employees involved in manually moving, pushing, pulling, or transporting materials?  Have you identified these terms in the descriptions of any experienced losses?  Do they know weather is it better to push or pull a pallet jack? If your answer is “yes” to either question, consider the following guidelines to recognize and reduce your hazards:

1. In addition to any difficulties or problems your employees are telling you about, look for the following visual cues as they work:

• Is it better to push or pull a pallet jack: (Strained facial expressions) It is possible that their facial expressions may be telling you that their efforts are high or demanding much of their physical capacity.
• Is it better to push or pull a pallet jack: (Leaning in to it) Employees tend to stay more upright when force demands are low but use their own body weight to get things moving when higher forces are required.
• Is it better to push or pull a pallet jack: (Somewhat erratic or jerky efforts) Quick motions or efforts may be used to generate or halt movement when loads are high, or conditions are adverse, as opposed to smooth, fluid, or appearing effortless when forces are low.

2. Is it better to push or pull a pallet jack: (Look at your workplace conditions) Pushing or moving materials on carts or pallet jacks can become more demanding due to multiple turns or changes in direction, narrow aisles, doorways and thresholds, ramps, damaged flooring and so on. Minimize changes of direction and elevation with good planning, layouts, and work methods.

3. Is it better to push or pull a pallet jack: (Understand the forces involved) Look at the loads or weights being handled as a general estimate, recommendations for maximum loads have included 300 kg for four-wheel carts and 700kg for manual pallet jacks.

With that said, push or pull forces are typically not the same as the weight of the load being moved.  Also consider measuring the actual forces using a tension pull device possibly found in your maintenance shop.  Recommended force levels have included:

• 23 kg or less to start the cart, dolly, or other device in motion.
• 18 or less to keep a device moving.
• 11kg or less when the force must be sustained for more than a minute or the device must be pushed more than 3 metres.

4. Is it better to push or pull a pallet jack:(Train employees to push as often as possible) Pushing allows employees to better utilize their body weight when higher forces are required. Pushing with both hands also helps to minimize twisting and reaching.

Acceptable forces can be to be up to 20% higher when pushing as opposed to pulling, and pulling, more so the pushing has been found to increase compressive loading of the spinal discs.