Material Handling


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Material Handling

Subtopics:

Conveyors
Cranes and Slings
Forklifts
Loading and Unloading
Material Handling—General

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Complete Topic List

Trainer's handbook: GHS-compliant chemical labels, safety data sheets, and training requirements are coming
September 2012
This past spring, federal OSHA published its long-awaited Hazard Communication Final Rule. The rule aligns OSHA's hazard communication standard (found in 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1200) with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) adopted by the United Nations in 2003. . . . more »

Federal OSHA: The Globally Harmonized System Comes to the U.S. at Last; Short-Term Costs Could Lead to Long-Term Savings
May 2012
On March 26, federal OSHA published its Hazard Communication Final Rule. The rule aligns OSHA's hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)--and its substance-specific standards, standards for flammable and combustible liquids, and process safety management rule--with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) adopted by the United Nations in 2003. . . . more »

Appeals Board Decisions: 'Transportation' Standard Applies to Parked Forklift Load; Three Key Findings You Should Know
November 2011
Loren Roose worked as a preventive maintenance and repair technician for Forklift Sales of Sacramento, Inc., in Fresno. While Roose was at a customer's facility in 2005, he was asked to repair the wheels on a pallet jack. . . . more »

Trainer's Handbook: Help Workers Elevate Safety to a New Level on Cranes and Derricks
June 2011
In August 2010, federal OSHA issued a new standard on cranes and derricks in construction, and Cal/OSHA is expected to bring its own rules for cranes and derricks into alignment with the new federal standard this year. Employees who work on cranes and derricks must receive training under the new regulation. Federal OSHA estimates that the new rule will save 22 lives and prevent 175 injuries each year. . . . more »

Featured Resource: Whole Grains Can Be Deadly to Workers; A Checklist to Prevent Grain Engulfment Accidents
October 2010
Grains have been in the news lately, and it hasn't all been good. In the past year, federal OSHA has issued millions of dollars in fines against employers across the country after incidents in which workers were engulfed in stored grain. . . . more »

Bulletin: OSHA issues new rule on crane and derricks in construction
September 2010
Federal OSHA has published its final rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction. The new rule is designed to prevent the leading causes of . . . more »

Sample Forklift Attachment and Modification Policy
COCA Online Exclusive July 2010
Adding attachments to or modifying the lifting apparatus on a forklift can create hazards if not done with care. Under this company's policy, the following must be done if any attachment is added to a forklift or modification made to the lifting apparatus: . . . more »

Bulletin: Online Exclusive: Sample Forklift Attachment and Modification Policy
July 2010
Adding attachments to or modifying the lifting apparatus on a forklift often increases the machinery's usefulness, but it can also create hazards if not done with . . . more »

Forklifts: Modifications Can Cause Injury; How to Increase Utility Without Compromising Safety
June 2010
Modifying a forklift--by adding extra counterweights to increase its load capacity, different lifting apparatus to raise different kinds of loads, or platforms to allow the forklift to raise personnel--can increase its usefulness but can also create deadly situations. If you modify a forklift in any way, make sure you address the issue of safety first. . . . more »

Safety Management: Is There a Qualified Person in the House? Part I: 'Competent' and 'Qualified' Person Requirements for Cranes and Elevating Equipment
June 2010
Some Cal/OSHA standards require employers to limit certain job assignments to employees who are "competent" or "qualified." In this two-part series, COCA will present all of the qualified/competent person requirements found in the General Industry Safety Orders. Part I covers cranes and other hoisting equipment; powered platforms and equipment for building maintenance; and elevating work platforms and aerial devices. . . . more »

Appeals Board Decisions: Crane Operator in Deadly Tipover Stays Within 'Rated Capacity' but Exceeds 'Safe Working Load'; Board Blames Poor Supervision
On June 22, 2006, workers were installing underground electrical cable in an open field in Livermore. The cable was on reels that weighed about 45,000 pounds each. The crane company, Sheedy Drayage of San Francisco, was responsible for moving the reels from a staging area to locations where each reel of cable would be installed. . . . more »

Trainer's Handbook: Handling Hazardous Cargo: Training Requirements for Marine Terminal Operations
February 2010
Working in a marine terminal, shifting cargo containers onto and off of trucks and ships, is a hazardous occupation. Marine terminal workers have been killed by falling containers and by falling from containers. They have been run over by heavy equipment and had heavy equipment tip over onto them. . . . more »

News Note: Material Handling Guide Wins Award
January 2010
Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling, a joint product of Cal/OSHA, NIOSH, and two private agencies, has been named the . . . more »

Materials Handling: Toys in Every Store! Make Sure Stacked and Stored Holiday Merchandise Doesn't Pose a Hazard
December 2009

It's the highest-volume shopping season of the year, which means warehouses filled to capacity in stores across the state. But high-volume materials handling can create hazards that cause injuries ranging from the uncomfortable (scraped knuckles and paper cuts) to the disabling (back and shoulder wounds) to the deadly (falls and burns). In any workplace that increases inventory during the holiday season, take "work-related injuries" off your employees' gift list by addressing the hazards below.

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Appeals Board Decisions: Unauthorized Misuse of Manlift Injures Temporary Worker; Company's Temporary Worker Training Was Key to Defense
December 2009

Two temporary workers at Land O'Lakes Purina Feed in Turlock, Brian Beauchamp and Sean Taylor Turner, were assigned to shovel feed into bags on the fifth floor of the feed mill and set them by the wall to be taken care of later.

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Appeals Board Decisions: Not Following Industry Standard Results in an Injury and a Citation
November 2009
At Evergreen Terminals in San Pedro, a shipping facility, shipping containers are loaded onto chassis and hauled by utility tractor rigs (UTRs, similar to semi-tractors) to where cranes are located. At that point, swingmen on the ground release the pins that hold the container . . . more »

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