Author: christopher Harper

Pushing vs Pulling Manual Carts

Pushing and pulling are the two most frequent actions workers execute in the course of doing their jobs. So in maneuvering manual carts, which is easier for the worker and creates less risk of injury — pushing or pulling?

Experts say pushing is preferable to pulling for a number of reasons. Research has demonstrated that people are able to exert higher push forces than pull forces. Given that horizontal push force, not the weight of the load or equipment, is the most significant factor in determining the effort required to move a load, that’s a significant consideration in selecting equipment.

Think of what happens to the body when you push something. Your entire body is used to create push force. In pushing an object, your body is more centered which allows you to concentrate force. Limbs are generally held closer to the body, limiting the possibility of extension injuries.

Pulling on the other hand, creates tremendous stress on individual body parts. When you pull an object and you are facing the direction of travel, one arm is stretched behind your body. This places the shoulder and back in awkward postures, increasing the potential for painful injury through overextension or awkward twisting. If you use two hands to pull an object you must have your back to the direction of travel. Walking backwards without a clear view of your path is an invitation to an accident. On an incline momentum can increase unexpectedly and the cart can careen into the worker or “run over” his feet.

There are times when pulling is the only way to maneuver a manual cart into the proper position, but at all other times pulling should be avoided. Pushing is the safer, more ergonomic way to move a manual cart.

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Material Handling Shows

It’s spring and time for our industry’s annual material handling shows. Circle the date on your calendar and start making travel plans. Here’s the low-down on what’s planned:

MHIA  —  April 21-24  —  Cleveland, OH

The  Material Handling Industry of America will host its North American exposition, NA 08: Solutions that Make the Supply Chain Work, at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Participants will have the opportunity to inspect and operate the latest manufacturing, distribution, material handling and IT solutions designed to increase supply chain productivity and profitability. Exhibits of products and services will be organized into four Solution Centers: manufacturing and assembly, fulfillment and delivery, information technology and knowledge which will showcase educational, benchmarking and research resources.

  • Sustainable, green solutions will receive special emphasis at the show. Andrew Winston, a nationally recognized expert on green business, will present the keynote address on Tuesday morning, April 22. The corporate environmental strategist will speak on Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value and Build High Performance Supply Chains.
  • More than 70 education sessions will be offered addressing best practices, new equipment developments and leading trends.

MHEDA  —  May 3-7  —  Orlando, Florida

Accelerate in ’08 is the theme of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association 53rd annual convention and exhibitors’ showcase. The convention will be held at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando in the theme park capital of the world, Orlando, Florida. At the show the emphasis is on education and networking, with ample opportunities to explore new technology and trends, improve business knowledge and skills and network and socialize with material handling peers. Fun activities for spouses and kids are planned for those who want to make this a family affair.

  • An exciting variety of educational presentations, round tables and workshops are planned on innovation, business growth, leadership, sales, marketing, customer service, financial and people management. Among several dynamic speakers will be Brian Beaulieu, an economist with the Institute for Trend Research, speaking on Planning for Change and Steven Little, Senior Consultant with Inc. Magazine, who will speak on Growing Your Business in the 21st Century.
  • At the May 5 Exhibitors Showcase you can check out the latest trends and developments in material handling. Hundreds of manufacturers and consultants from around the world will be on hand to showcase and demonstrate their products and services.
  • A golf tournament and biking tour are among numerous optional tours available for the fun-seeking. Ticket discounts to area theme parks are also available.

Webcast: World-Changing Material Handling Trends

The challenges facing American business and our world are mind boggling: recession, labor shortages, global warming, war, the brain drain. Politicians are ranting, people are discussing, and everyone is worrying about what to do. Solutions run the gamut from fantastic to ludicrous. Given the realities of moving and managing resources, surprisingly few of the ideas being bandied about in the press seem realistic. Modern Materials Handling magazine suggests that the most realistic solutions are coming from the world of logistics. The magazine has assembled a panel of experts to discuss some of the most promising solutions to the world’s problems and the trends in material handling that will make them possible.

Trends that will change materials handling — and the world is the subject of an upcoming webcast sponsored by Modern Materials Handling magazine. The live webcast will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, August 29. Click here to register for the material handling trends webcast.

Editor-in-Chief Tom Andel will moderate a panel that will include:

  • John Hill, TranSystems/ESYNC, who will discuss enticing new talent to the logistics workforce through supply chain execution technology.
  • Ron Giuntini, OEM Products-Services Institute, will provide insight into the material handling implications of the service vs product model and its effect on both the economy and environment.
  • Col. Alan Will of the U.S. Marine Corps will share logistics best practices learned on the front lines in Iraq.
  • Dr. John Usher, PhD, a professor with the University of Louisville Department of Industrial Engineering, will describe a future in which Direct Digital Manufacturing will redefine material handling in production environments.

Handhold Design Can Improve Worker Efficiency

Most carts have handholds of one sort or another. Handles are such an ordinary part of everyday equipment that it’s easy to ignore their importance in efficient equipment use. But handholds are the link between the operator and the load. Handholds cue the operator on how much force to exert and where to apply it most effectively to move the load. Handhold placement and design on carts can increase or decrease the ease and efficiency with which a worker moves a load.

In evaluating the usefulness of a cart, consider these important elements of handhold design:

  • Handhold Height. Handhold height defines the operator’s posture, and posture determines the amount of force a person is able to generate when moving a cart. Given the difference in human size, no single handhold height will be optimal for all workers. Handholds that cause operators to bend or stoop can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. When handholds are located at the proper height for an individual’s body, he is able to exert maximum force without straining his body. An adjustable handhold system will accommodate workers of various sizes. Other solutions include a continuous vertical handhold system that can be grasped at any point along its length or a series of handholds at varying heights.
  • Handhold Width. Handholds should allow the operator to grip the cart near its outer edge to provide maximum leverage for turning and positioning. However it’s important that hands, fingers or arms not protrude beyond the side of the cart to prevent crushing injuries should the cart come in contact with a wall or other equipment.
  • Handhold Type. The type of handhold can dramatically affect the amount of force an operator is able to exert when maneuvering a cart. Poor coupling, the contact between hands and equipment, can decrease the force an operator can exert by 65%. Handhold shape should not concentrate pressure on any specific area of the hand. There should be no sharp edges or pronounced ridges. Both the palm of the hand and the fingers should be able to contact the handhold which should be wide enough to accommodate the entire hand.
    Note: Pulling tasks require a handhold that can be gripped with the fingers wrapping around the handle. Pushing tasks need only a good surface that provides stable hand/equipment coupling.

Ergonomic Car Pusher = Savings for U.S. Auto Industry

As the already-battered U.S. auto industry struggles to keep its doors open during the growing economic recession, the financial and workforce value of ergonomic car pushers will become increasingly important. Doom and gloom seem to headline news about the auto industry.In a bid to prop up troubled domestic automakers, governors from six states heavily invested in the auto industry — Michigan, Ohio, Delaware, Kentucky, New York and South Dakota — petitioned the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve for help. “The auto industry; their network of suppliers, vendors, dealers and other businesses; and the communities that rely on those businesses face unimaginable challenges — challenges we urge you to help address,” the governors wrote.Over the past decade, U.S. automakers have been fighting a losing battle against tough competition from foreign car companies, particularly Honda and Toyota.  Faltering automakers General Motors and Chrysler are talking merger in order to stay alive, though financing could present a major stumbling block. Although tens of thousands of jobs would be lost in a merger, industry experts agree that a merger is preferable to the even greater disaster that would occur should either company collapse.But automakers aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch. U.S. auto dealers are also struggling; and particularly in areas glutted with dealers, many are being forced to scale back or close their doors. Nationally, new car sales are down 13% from last year, with sales expected to continue dropping as people cut expenses and harbor their cash during the impending recession. The National Automobile Dealers Association has asked President Bush to consider issuing refundable consumer tax credits for new car and truck purchases or instituting a program that would entice consumers to upgrade their vehicles.The bottom line is that all players in the auto industry, from monster auto makers to small-town dealers, are going to have to make their operations leaner and meaner. Turning to ergonomically-designed, fuel-smart car pushers specifically designed for the automotive industry can reap significant savings. Ergonomically-designed car pushers are proven to reduce expensive musculoskeletal injuries and their attendant medical, insurance and workers compensation costs. And ergonomic equipment allows a single worker to accomplish a greater workload, increasing production efficiency and reducing personnel costs. Battery and electric-powered car pushers also saves big bucks in fuel and maintenance costs compared to diesel or gas-powered car pushers. Studies show that ergonomic equipment pays for itself in a single year. After that, it’s all gravy!To find out how an ergonomic car pusher can improve your bottom line, talk to the experts at DJ Products.

A Powered Carpet Dolly is a Dream Come True for Carpet Installers

In early written instances of someone using a flying carpet, the purpose of having a carpet with magical powers is for people to be transported from one place to another quickly. However, if you have ever needed to transport a carpet itself, you may have wished it could fly. In the real world, we have ways to transport ourselves, but moving carpet and rugs is not always so easy. While you cannot get a carpet to float in the air or fly, you can certainly make your work a lot easier with a DJ Products carpetcaddy.

A CarpetCaddy Powered Carpet Dolly can take was traditionally a job for two or three people and make it into something that one person can do. Instead of having to send out a team of people to load, transport, and install carpet, mats or rugs, you can have one person do work that used to require several people. Even if you need to send a team out, one person can take care of transporting the carpet or rug while other team members concentrate on other tasks.

You can use our powered carpet mover to maneuver around a warehouse, set-up in an event center or gymnasium, or to remove and deliver of seasonal floor mats or rugs.

The size and price of the powered carpet dolly make it a much safer and more affordable solution than a bulky lift truck and its ergonomic design means that one employee can get the job done safely without overextending the body. Call 800-686-2651 to order yours today!

Ergonomic Scissor Lifts You Can Use Safely

In addition to its industrial uses, the scissor lift has been in the news this year for its role in charitable endeavors. In some cities, scissor lifts are being used to store good donated for families in need. And in Washington state, a veteran spent eight days living on a scissor lift “to raise money and awareness for homeless veterans.” His efforts brought in $4,000 and at the end he said was glad to back down on the ground again.

A scissor lift can take people to heights they would not be able to reach on their own. The key is making sure that a person can both be lifted and get back down safely. It is one thing to watch someone being lifted on or using a scissor lift but another thing entirely to be the one entrusting your safety to a manufacturer and your coworkers. We have made many different sizes and shapes of mobile electric lift tables for various applications that, when combined with our PartsCaddy mobile platform truck, eliminate the manual pushing of pulling of these tables with loads on them. And with our mobile electric lift you get 16 hours of continuous use batteries—plenty of battery life to usually last two shifts.

DJ Products offers industrial ergonomic material handling electric carts, including pushers, pullers, and equipment industry that eliminate the strain of manually pulling heavy products, parts carts, or wheeled equipment, or eliminate a bulky, expensive lift truck. You can count on us for:

• Carts with casters
• Carts with 4-swivel casters or wagon-wheel style of turning
• Carts in a straight line
• Platform Trucks & Scissor Lifts

A Powered Cart Can Be Used in a Variety of Workplaces

A powered cart is a versatile piece of equipment that can not only be used in a variety of work environments but can also be used in a myriad number of ways in one workplace. A powered cart can streamline work tasks and reduce the chance of injury in places like: warehouses, hospitals, hotels, resorts, casinos, offices and schools.

The PartsCaddyLite powered cart has enough power to handle most parts-moving applications within a hospital or other hospitality setting, but it is still small and maneuverable enough to be easily pushed through a crowded hallway.

You can use it to move equipment, boxes, books, chairs and other items. This is the kind of thing that will be used constantly in some workplaces, while in others it may not be used every single day but having it on hand will make a huge difference when there is a need to move heavy items from one spot to another.
While a wheeled cart is also useful, there are times when you need something with more power. This is especially true if your workplace has wheeled carts that have been around for a while–with time these carts can become rickety and difficult to maneuver. You do not want employees endangering themselves and risked collisions in narrow spaces. The cart has a variable speed twist grip for forward and reverse directions from 0 to 3 mph.

Watch this video to see the DJ Products PartsCaddyLite in action and you’ll understand just how useful it can be for your business or organization.

The Benefits of Ergonomic Carpet Delivery

In a Dalton Daily Citizen article that extolls the ergonomic benefits of carpet, numerous reasons in favor of softer floor coverings included:

• Employees may experience less pain in their feet, knees, hips, and spine since carpet “cushion the blows and jolts that can occur from even just walking around.” You may not realize it but carpets can contribute to less fatigue and fewer sore joints.

• Using carpet in schools and officers creates better acoustics because sound waves are not bouncing off of floors.

• After spending time chasing little ones around the house, parents benefit from softer floor coverings. And children who like to run around and play will suffer fewer injuries.

The article, which was aimed at people who are in the business of selling carpet, set out to remind those in the industry that the product they sell has many benefits.

We would like to add that for all the ergonomic benefits carpet can produce for homes, schools, and offices, those who deliver carpet should also consider finding ergonomic ways to deliver these benefits.

A powered carpet dolly from DJ Products makes the loading of a carpet roll, a mat, or a rug from a warehouse to the jobsite an effortless job for one person, instead of having it be work that requires 2 or 3 people. And before you imagine that you will need on unbelievably strong person, you should know that our CarpetCaddy eliminates possible injury the installer might get from over extending the body. Also, the size and price of the powered carpet dolly makes it a much safer and more affordable solution than a bulky lift truck.

Four Tips to Improve Your Warehouse Efficiency

Manager in Lumber Warehouse Holding Clipboard
Improve Your Warehouse Efficiency with These Tips.

Do you believe you have to implement major changes to improve efficiency in your warehouse? As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. Attention to seemingly minor steps will pay huge dividends in the bottom line. These warehouse management tips include four areas you can improve with just a bit of tweaking.

1. Always double-check orders

Even the best employees will occasionally make mistakes. The average cost of resending an order is more than double the amount of sending the original order. Can your company absorb these repeated expenses? Set a policy that all orders must be double-checked before leaving the warehouse.

2. Don’t forget the housekeeping

Look around your warehouse. Are you proud of its appearance, or is it cluttered and disorganized? It’s difficult for your employees to work quickly if they have to search for pick tickets, supplies or other necessary items. Establish a standing time each week to spend an hour or two cleaning the warehouse. 

3. Stay organized

Keeping the warehouse clean will be easier when employees take the time to maintain order with items that are frequently used. Having a home for everything reduces waste and makes optimum use of available space.

4. Have your senior employees walk the floor

It’s always helpful to have some fresh eyes look at the operation. “Outsiders” are more likely to spot a problem that has become ingrained in daily activities.

One of the best warehouse management tips is to provide safe and effective material handling solutions like our CartCaddy5WP. Contact us to learn more about how Team Cart Caddy can help improve your warehouse efficiency.