Is Your Business Missing These 3 Material Handling SOPs?

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As any business grows, it’s necessary to add new standard operating procedures along the way. 

In warehousing, delivery, logistics, or any business that uses material handling tools, SOPs that define best practices for using those tools can help keep employees safe and productive.

Worker maneuvering stacked Hammermill paper boxes on a hand truck inside a cargo truck

As your business expands and your team continues to rely on dolly carts and hand trucks, here are a few material handling SOPs to consider.

Schedule Regular Equipment Inspections

Even the most durable, well-built material handling tools are subject to wear and tear. This equipment is used every day, so its condition can affect employee safety and efficiency.

Routine inspection SOPs help keep equipment in working order. Put together an inspection checklist for each piece of equipment. It can include everything from checking bolts to brakes.

Comply with the Load Limits of Each Material Handling Tool 

All material handling tools have load limits. Exceeding this limit can result in potential injury to the operator and damage to the tool. Different types of material handling tools typically have different load limits.

Person delivering medical oxygen cylinder on a hand truck to a residential porch.

A general-purpose 2 wheel moving dolly may have a capacity of up to 500 pounds, while an appliance hand truck may carry up to 600 pounds in two-wheel mode and up to 800 pounds with an extended fourth-wheel attachment. 

Review the documentation for each hand truck on site and spell out limits in your SOPs. You can even label load limits on the hand trucks themselves for easy reference. This helps prevent your team from overloading a hand truck and putting themselves or the item at risk.

Pair the Right Hand Truck to Each Job

It’s easy enough to grab the closest available hand truck for a job, but that doesn’t mean it’s the “right” tool for that job. Building an SOP for assigning the correct hand truck to a job is another way to support employee safety and productivity. 

Worker pushing cart loaded with soda cases through a supermarket beverage aisle.

A portable collapsible hand cart, for example, can be a strong option for smaller delivery vehicles with limited space for a larger hand truck. It’s also suited for loads of varying sizes. A heavy duty appliance hand truck is ideal for larger, bulky loads. With the right tool for the job, your team can work more efficiently, productively, and safely.

About Magline

There’s a reason so many businesses rely on Magliner material handling tools. Magliner hand trucks set the industry standard for supporting a wide range of material handling needs. As you browse the lineup of Magliner tools, you’ll find an extensive range of options, including versatile 2 wheel dollies, convertible hand trucks, powered stair climbing tools, and more. If you’re ready to upgrade your team’s day-to-day workflow, it’s time to upgrade to Magliner hand trucks.

Find material handling tools for every job at https://www.magliner.com/

This article was originally published on magliner.com’s blog here.

Location: United States

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