Post Date
June,
30
2026
Just received your new manual handling truck or trolley? Do you know the techniques to safely operate it? Lets discuss how you can safely operate your truck or trolley.
These simple techniques will help your workplace meet health and safety standards and increase your productivity.
These techniques are crucial to help keep workers safe. It is essential to follow these techniques to reduce harm, strain and injury and increase workload production.
Full training must be provided before workers commence any tasks using any equipment. It is the employers legal duty to ensure all workers are fully trained in all equipment before any task is carried out by any worker with refresher training when needed.
- posture and grip
- push rather than pull
- load distribution
- visibillity
Posture and grip
Reducing strain and injury of workers.
Stand facing forwards with both hands gripped securely onto the handles. Stand with the back straight feet facing forwards with the head held up. Turn the head to check visibility.
Do not twist the body. Turn the truck or trolley by moving feet and arms together when needed to change direction. Keep to an upright posture head facing straight ahead. keep to a forwards facing motion at all times.
Push not pull
To safely operate the truck or trolley and maintain control at all times do not pull the trolley.
Push forwards at all times using your hands firming on the handles.
The worker's ability and strength must match the weight and size of the load. It is essential the worker is able to push the load without strain.
keep to a forward facing motion pushing slowly at all times.Turn to change direction, never pulling backwards.
Load distribution
Trucks and trolleys have a weight limit that must never be exceeded.
Always distribute the weight of the load. Never overload equipment. Load distribution allows the worker full control making it easier and safer to push and manoeuvre. It is essential you know the weight limit and the combined weight of the products you are loading.
When loading one item place it in the middle of the platform. Place multiple items evenly across the platform by weight. Products must never be stacked heavier on one side making the truck or trolley unbalanced in weight. These techniques reduce strain on the equipment and the worker.
Uneven weight distribution can also cause fallen items leading to injury, breakages, damages or contamination.
Visibility
Workers must have full visibility at all times. Be visually aware of and avoid any oncoming hazards. Before and during the tasks the worker must check visibility is clear.
It is essential that nothing is blocking visibility. Do not load or stack items above visibility levels on the platform.
It is essential that nothing is blocking visibility during the designated route. Visual checks must be made to allow a safe and effective transportation route. Identify blockages, hazards and spillages.
Maintain visual access to floor surfaces, staircases, other workers, machinery and equipment.
Applying these techniques is crucial and will help the workplace meet health and safety standards and provide a smooth and productive task.
It is essential these techniques are carried out while operating trucks and trolleys. Health and safety standards are met. This enables workers to carry out their duties effectively and at ease.
Full control and smooth operation of equipment will flow across the workplace increasing production.
These techniques must be applied at all times and full training must be provided to all workers before using any equipment.
- posture and grip
- push rather than pull
- load distribution
- visibillity
BREG PRODUCTS LTD
PHONE NUMBER:
01484 469944
+44 (0)1484 469944
EMAIL ADDRESS:
mail@bregproducts.co.uk
Breg Products Ltd
Springvale Works
Brookfoot
Elland Road
Brighouse
West Yorkshire
HD6 2RN
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