Safety in Material Handling at industry

  Material handling is an art that involves moving, handling and storing of materials in an industry

or a constructional field. In simple terms, it is moving, loading and unloading of materials. It  provides an extended flow of products, raw materials and parts for further operations in a

workplace. Different machineries and equipments are used for handling materials to make it safe

and economic. Material handling is considered as exterior phenomenon for the product, as it

enhances the cost of the product and in most cases it is a qualitative loss too. It doesn’t make

any value to the product or good, so it is always preferable to minimize the cost of material

handling. In industries, approximately 40% of production cost is incurred by material handling

and also about 80% of time being wasted in processing, transporting and waiting.

From the engineering backdrop the term material handling refers to an industrial activity.

Whether it may be a big industry or a small manufacturing unit or may it be a construction work,

materials need to be handled as large ingots, semi-finished goods or final products starting from

the procurement to the dispatch. Handling of materials involves various operations such as

dumping of coal with a dumper, moving cartons with a forklift, loading off the bags from the

truck etc., Improper material handling and storage may result in accidents or injuries. These

accidents or injuries may range from back injury to a catastrophic failure of a dump truck. That’s the reason; in any industry the safe operation of material handling is vital.

 

In any manufacturing or service sectors, safe handling of materials is an important job. The main

objective of safety in material handling is to avoid the injuries or accidents while loading,

unloading or transporting the materials from one place to another. The process of material

handling can be done either by man or by using some specially designed equipment/machine. In

most cases material handling is done by using some machinery for the purpose of safety. Some

of the equipments used for materials handling are palter jacks, forklifts, conveyors, cranes etc.,

which make the job easier and more efficient for the employees working in warehouses,

factories, distribution centers etc., But when not utilized properly, this heavy machinery can also

put the safety of material handling in jeopardy.