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:

(1) They are able to transport objects through the overhead space in the plant
and as a result space is <<<>>> which would otherwise be <<>> and <<>>
space is <<>> for other uses.
(2) There are causes in which cranes and hoist are used not because there are
free space but because they are the <<>> available means of <<>> materials
in a particular location. Examples of cranes and hoist are overhead travelling
bridge cranes, <<>> cranes, elevators, <<>><>, chain hoist, etc.