Moving across a flat floor differs from moving on a ramp, through a narrow corridor or over a damaged floor. Do not base the decision to start alone on container weight alone.
What to check beyond weight
- Route: slopes, thresholds and turns.
- Floor: wet, icy or damaged sections.
- Visibility: does the load or container block the view ahead?
Before starting
Walk the route; check the equipment against the container and load, the model instructions and the workplace risk assessment. Do not improvise if suitable equipment is unavailable.
The second person's role
The second person may guide from an agreed safe position or watch that the route is clear, rather than joining the push. Agree a hand signal or stop command before moving.
Alternatives. Use a suitable pallet truck, tug or platform according to its instructions. If capacity or conditions of use are unclear, stop and ask the responsible person.
Who decides
Workers should know how to decline to start or stop when they see a difficult condition. Explain the workplace supervisor and help process before the shift.
See the route in advance
Mark thresholds, turns, doorway width and obstacles that block the view. If a problem appears, decide where to wait safely and whom to call.
Lifting and pushing differ
Lifting a container or repositioning a load by hand is a different task from moving it on wheels. Set the manual handling method through product instructions and workplace assessment; ask for support if uncertain.
