Organizational management for your MHE
When selecting material-handling equipment (MHE), you should use a system’s approach to ensure safety, productivity, and efficiency. This involves considering the interaction between the five key elements of the workplace system: the equipment, the task, the organizational management, the environment, and the worker.
In this article, we consider the organizational management that’s needed to plan, coordinate, and facilitate the successful use of MHE in the workplace.
Considerations
Before you purchase or select MHE, consider how it fits in with the other elements of a workplace system. In consultation with workers, some factors to consider include:
- Inventory management: What needs to be moved, how much, and how often? Consider the movement of all inventory around your facility and evaluate the flow of that inventory. Consider process changes throughout the workflow to eliminate unnecessary repeat handling.
- Maintenance: A preventive maintenance program is an important component of ensuring your MHE remains safe, functional, and effective throughout its service life. Inspect and maintain wheels (casters) routinely. Debris, damage, or worn components can significantly increase the force needed to move the cart and increase the risk of MSI.
- Training: Training on the equipment is essential so workers understand how to safely operate the MHE.
Read the rest of the series
For a deeper dive, check out the rest of the articles in this series:
Visit worksafebc.com/ergonomics to learn more.
We’re here to help
If you have questions about ergonomics or human factors, please contact us at HumanFactors@worksafebc.com.
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