Efficient warehouse operations heavily rely on ensuring the safety of pallet trucks, as they are one of the most widely used equipment pieces in warehouses across the UK. Nevertheless, inappropriately utilising pallet trucks can lead to accidents, injuries, and harm to goods. Therefore, to ensure smooth warehouse operations, it is essential to avoid these common mistakes while using a pallet truck:
- Overloading the pallet truck: One of the most common mistakes people make when using a pallet truck is overloading it with too much weight. Pallet trucks are designed to carry a specific weight limit, and exceeding this limit can cause damage to the truck and cause accidents. Always check the weight capacity of your pallet truck before using it and make sure that you do not exceed the limit.
- Not inspecting the pallet truck before use: Before using a pallet truck, it is important to inspect it for any signs of damage or wear and tear. This includes checking the wheels, forks, and hydraulics. If you notice any damage or issues, do not use the pallet truck and report it to the relevant personnel immediately.
- Failing to position the pallet truck correctly: When using a pallet truck, it is important to position it correctly to avoid accidents. You must ensure that the pallet is properly aligned with the forks of the pallet truck, and that the pallet truck is centred under the pallet, as a failure to do so can result in the pallet falling off the forks or the pallet truck tipping over.
- Not using the brakes properly: It is important to engage the brakes whenever the pallet truck is parked or not in use to prevent it from rolling away. Failure to do this could result in serious accidents or injuries.
- Using the pallet truck on uneven surfaces: Pallet trucks are designed to be used on flat and even surfaces, and using them on uneven surfaces can cause the pallet truck to tip over or lose its load, resulting in damage to goods and injury to other members of staff. Therefore, make sure that the planner route is flat and even before using the pallet truck.
- Using the pallet truck to lift people or other objects: Although a quick ride on a pallet truck might seem appealing during down times in the warehouse, pallet trucks are designed to lift and move pallets of goods, not people or other objects, and doing so can result in serious injury. Never use a pallet truck for any purpose other than its intended use.