Material-handling.docx

MATERIAL HANDLING One of the most common sources of accidents which leads to injury is in the handling of materials from one section of the firm to another. Handling involves packaging, crafting, sorting, loading, unloading, transporting, piling, arranging and others. In any one of these processes, there are direct contact between the materials involved and workmen. As such these individuals are exposed to risk of varied types of mishaps and injury, which may lead to either partial or complete disability of valuable workers. Improving Safety and Conditions. The choice and introduction of the correct handling methods can make a substantial contribution to increased safety improvement of working conditions. Most materials and containers can be potentially dangerous because of such things as burrs and sharp edges causing cuts, heavy articles, the lifting of which cause muscular strain and dropping of containers resulting in bruises. In spite of stringent precautions, containers and product may be temporarily stored in gangways, providing hazards to passing employees. The use of mechanical handling equipment prevent direct contact between materials and workmen and, therefore, substantially reduces these hazards. One such effect of mechanical handling equipment is the improvement of operator morale. Any piece of equipment increases the status of the job, even if only to a very small degree. The novelty effect of the appliance will help in reducing the boredom of the job. The labouring job takes on new interest with the introduction of a forklift truck. Concentration required in the manipulation of the vehicle contrast sharply with the purely muscular work previously involved. The attendant improvement of worker morale alone serves to reduce accident and injuries among workers.

MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT There are different kinds and types of handling equipment that can be placed under three major categories. Conveyors The first major class of materials handling equipment consists of conveyors. A conveyor is a device which moves materials in either a vertical or horizontal direction between two fixed joints. And the movement can take place either continuously or intermittently. Two of the distinguishing characteristics of conveyors are that: (1) They create a relatively fixed route. Making possible to connect two work stations by materials handling equipment which is capable of moving matrials only between two fixed joints. (2) If they are the fixed type, they occupy space continuously. As a result they must be stalled in location in which they will not interfere with the flow of other traffic. Examples of different types of conveyors are as follows: 1. Roller conveyor 2. Belt conveyor 3. Wheel conveyor 4. Trolley conveyor 2. Cranes and Hoist This equipment is for moving materials vertically and laterally in any area of limited length, width and height. It is used when materials must be lifted prior to being moved from one point to another. Cranes are generally for heavier loads and may be mounted on tractor or vehicles in which case they are called TRAVELLING CRANES. Two advantages of cranes and hoist are:

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