Day: July 4, 2016

What Makes Dumpsters so Dangerous?

DJ Products' Dumpster Caddy Reduces Workplace Injuries
DJ Products’ Dumpster Caddy Reduces Workplace Injuries

It’s easy to think of dumpsters as safe, since they are basically large inanimate objects. However, these massive metal structures tend the be the starting point for many workplace injuries. Loading, cleaning, and relocating a dumpster can be very hazardous to both employees and tenants.

Manage the injury risk at your workplace by taking a fresh look at the dangers surrounding dumpsters and waste containers. This rental dumpster blog sums up what everybody should know:

  • The ground around a dumpster must be kept clean to prevent slips and falls.
  • Clean dumpsters with disinfectant on a routine basis to stop the spread of illness and deter pests.
  • Dumpsters should be carefully placed in safe locations. Moving them requires machinery like a dumpster caddy because manual pushing and pulling carries major injury risk.
  • Workers should use proper lifting technique when loading a dumpster. Use side openings for large, heavy objects.
  • Use motion sensor lights to keep the area safe for nighttime workers.
  • Clearly label the dumpster with safety warnings — no one should climb in, hazardous materials should not be deposited, and workers should not move the container without a dumpster caddy and proper safety equipment.

Prevention is the best policy when it comes to worker injuries while using a dumpster. Safety gloves are a must; goggles and air filter masks are recommended. Make sure your employees know safe techniques for lifting heavy objects and trash bags.

If workers need to move a dumpster, be wary of manually pushing the dumpster, even if it’s on wheels. The dumpster caddy from DJ Products automates this process and virtually eliminates the risk of muscle injuries and runaway carts.

New Tuggers Reinvent the Process of Material Handling

New Tuggers Reinvent the Process of Material Handling
New Tuggers Reinvent the Process of Material Handling

In today’s society where people expect next-day delivery and a large supply of product, the ability to move items quickly through a distribution center or warehouse is essential. Continuing innovations in industrial tugs make this task easier while “increasing ergonomics, productivity and safety for workers on the floor,” according to the article “Casters, carts, and tuggers: Reinventing the Wheel” from Modern Materials Handling.

Specialized casters

Suppliers are finding new, creative ways to improve traditional caster design. These new, specialized casters capable of withstanding the weight associated with high volumes of products can help distributors transport heavier loads more often while reducing noise levels and risk of injury to workers.

These casters include motorized industrial casters that don’t use a shaft and swivel casters that rotate around two separate vertical axes. Using these casters in industrial tugs such as those available from DJ Products, greatly improves efficiency and safety in distribution centers and warehouses.

Industrial tug benefits

According to the Modern Materials Handling article, the use of industrial tugs and carts improves efficiency as “operators can unload products and replace empty containers on the production line multiple times in a single pass.” This is a vast improvement over the use of forklifts that could only transport a single load at a time and it can reduce employee injury while creating better ergonomics and less noise. Tuggers are easier to turn around tight corners than forklifts and this allows operation in narrower areas of the warehouse.

Contact our professionals today to learn how industrial tugs and cart movers from DJ Products can help improve the safety and efficiency of your distribution business.