Injuries that occur as a result of
muscle strain in the back or the shoulders are one of the most common types of
workplace injury that can befall an employee, and this is especially true for
those who manoeuvre heavy pallet trucks around a busy workplace all day, every
day. One in five of all workplace injury complaints are related to back pain,
with the manual handling industry being one of the largest culprits. Pallet trucks are constructed
entirely for the purposes of moving heavy loads from A to B, and so it follows
that the actual construction of the trucks should be as lightweight as
possible, not only to ensure that there is no unnecessary weight added to an
already heavy cargo, but also to drastically cut the chances of complaints such
as back or muscle strain.
Using a lightweight
hand pallet truck is paramount to ensuring staff safety without compromising on
high quality. Trucks such as the i-ton
1000 Hand Pallet Truck offer a piece of equipment that weighs in at just
38kg, yet can carry up to 1000kg safely and easily. This is due to a highly
advanced Techno-polymer compound, a lightweight material that is as rigid and
robust as the steel which pallet trucks are normally constructed from. The
material also protects from external corrosive agents such as water or harsh
chemicals, in much the same way as a galvanized or stainless steel pallet truck
might. The operating lever which controls the lifting mechanism of the truck
can be used with both right and left hands, and the hydraulic pump elevates the
truck to its highest height in just three strokes; both of these mechanisms
combine with the incredibly lightweight nature of the truck to make it extremely
easy and safe for staff to use without picking up a strain or muscle complaint.
For smaller loads
and even smaller spaces, the ML0308
Portable Folding Pallet Truck weighs in at just 26kg and when not in use, it
can be easily stored by being hung up on a wall or on the side of a cupboard.
Despite its incredible lightweight construction, it can still safely carry and
lift up to 300kg of cargo, and like many other trucks which boast lightweight credentials,
can be used within a van or truck to truly take the strain off employees for a
while.
When using
lightweight pallet trucks in a car, truck or other form of transport, it is
vital that they are used in conjunction with a pallet
truck chock, which works by immobilising the rear wheels of a truck and
ensuring that they can’t roll off the edge of a loading bay or truck bed. As well
as providing extra security for the items within the truck, pallet truck chocks
also help to protect staff members against the dreaded back strain by enabling
them to place the truck into the van without risking an injury in turning it
onto its side or lifting it into a tyre.
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