Material Handling Hazards
Workers involved in material handling are at risk of injuries such as fractures, bruises, and crushing injuries caused by being struck by materials or caught in pinch points. Common hazards include:
- Back injuries from improper lifting techniques.
- Injuries from hand carts and trucks due to excessive force, jerking motions, or trying to free stuck or frozen items. Safer methods include using penetrating oil, heat for ice, or long-handled tools.
- Dropped or awkward loads, which can injure other body parts.
- Suspended loads that are released or dropped unexpectedly.
- Slips, trips, and falls due to uneven, cluttered, or slippery walking and working surfaces.
- Injuries during manual loading/unloading of pick-up and delivery trucks.
- Restricted operator visibility on surface mining machines, increasing the risk of collisions with vehicles or persons nearby.
- Falls of rock or ore onto delivery personnel and vehicles from high walls or banks.
Because of these risks, all workers responsible for handling and delivering materials should receive training in:
- Traffic control procedures
- Signaling machine operators
- General hazard recognition and awareness
Proper training helps prevent injuries and ensures safe material handling practices.