MATERIAL HANDLING AND
STORAGE
MATERIAL HANDLING
• A technique which includes the art of
lifting, placing, storing or moving and
handling of materials through the use of
appropriate handling equipment and
people.
• refers to any methods for moving
materials
– by people
– by people using equipment
Diverse Operations in Materials
Handling and Storage
• Hoisting tons of steel with a crane
• Driving a truck loaded with
construction materials
• Stacking palletized bricks or other
materials
What Employees should know before carrying out
Materials Handling and Storage
• Training
• Proper work practices
• Equipment and controls
• Potential hazards
• Methods for eliminating hazards
and risks
Material Handling and Storage
Hazards / Accidents
• Physical strain or over exertion
• Falling load
• Collisions
• Hits, cuts, blows
• Trapped between objects
• Weight, bulkiness
• Falling objects
• Traffic in aisles (use convex mirrors, mirror walls, observe
5kph inside warehouse)
• Trucks – mechanical parts, risk of breaking load
capacity(maintenance)
• Non-observance of stacking guidelines
Unsafe Acts
• shortcutting procedures
• Ignoring signages and speed limits
• Position of people, e.g. spotter sometimes
they are directly behind the equipment (use
of proper hand signals)
Types of
Material Handling Accidents
• Physical strain or over exertion
• Falling load
• Collisions
• Hits, cuts, blows
• Trapped between objects
Classification of
Material Handling Operations
• Manual Handling
• consists of any hand operated handling,
transporting and packaging of products.
• Mechanical Handling
– manual powered
– mechanical powered
– pertains to more rigid, powered and non-
powered mechanics mainly for handling
bulky and heavy items.
Lifting Precautions
• Inspect the item prior to lifting
• Get a firm grip on the object
• Keep fingers away from pinch
points
• Keep hands dry
• Wipe off greasy, wet surfaces
• Use necessary PPE
Materials Handling
Accessories
• Hand-operated accessories
– to provide easy access,
– protection of operator
– prevention of damage to material.
• Chains
– do not let chains get kinked, knotted
or twisted.
Materials Handling
Accessories
• Steel and plastic straps
– make sure straps are not too loose or
tight.
– do not lift by the strap unless the same is
designed for that purpose.
• Trolleys and hand trucks
– a curved bed for drums,
– any bulky, awkward or delicate items.
– Position it in such a way that it won’t pinch
or crush any part of the body when it slips.
Materials Handling
Accessories
• Ropes are common in handling
materials
– One has to know what particular rope can
handle particular tasks/loads.
– keep rope in good condition all the time.
Mechanical Handling
• Mechanical Powered
–Conveyor
–Hoists
–Forklifts
–Cranes
Mechanical Handling
Precautions
• Special training needed for
operators
• Authorize handlers and
operators
Fact
• 30% of accidents are caused by
materials handling
• Materials handling does not add
value, just cost!
Materials Storage General
Requirements
• Materials should be stored neatly and
orderly. A variety of ways and means
could easily be adopted and
maintained.
• Have at least two exits
• Properly illuminated
• Properly ventilated
• Restricted access
Location of Storage
• Materials not obstruct alarm boxes,
sprinklers system control, First Aid
equipment, etc.
• Safely accessible
Location of Storage
• Aisles and Passageways
– Allow sufficient clearance for aisles at
loading docks thru doorways, wherever
turns maybe made, and in other parts of
the workplace.
– Ensure that all passageways are clear of
obstructions and tripping hazards.
– Should not store materials in excess of
supplies needed for immediate operations
in aisles, and must mark permanent aisles
and passageways appropriately.
Steps in Solving Materials
Handling Problems
• What are to be moved?
• Direction to be moved?
• Frequency to be moved?
• Volume to be moved?
– With this situation,
• location of the storage
• with respect to its movement:
• Use of special handling equipment
Safety Measures regarding
Conveyors
• Install an emergency button or pull cord
• Design the emergency stop switch so that
it must be reset before the conveyor can
be started
• Inspect conveyor regularly
• Prohibit workers to ride on a MH
conveyor
• Provide guards where conveyors pass
over work areas or aisles
Goals
• Better organized storage
• Fewer and shorter transport and
handling operations
• Fewer and more efficient heavy
lifting operations
1. Better Organized Storage
• If in doubt, take it out
• Avoid placing materials on the floor.
• Save space by introducing multi-level
racks.
• Provide a “home” for each tool and
work item
– Your tools are your trade. Put them
back to keep track.
2. Fewer and Shorter Transport
and Handling Operations
• the more you use it, the closer it should
be.
• Use mobile storage.
• Make your equipment easy to move to
where it is needed.
3. Fewer and More Efficient
Lifting Operations
• Do not lift loads higher than necessary.
• Move materials at working heights
• Make lifting more efficient and safe.
3. Fewer and More Efficient
Lifting Operations
• Do not lift loads higher than necessary.
• Move materials at working heights
• Make lifting more efficient and safe.
Don’t Forget
• A tidy environment
is a safety
requirement
