It’s only a matter of time before you need to move something heavy, and that’s where the sack truck comes in handy.
Workplace and household injuries are caused by people moving heavy loads without the right equipment and adequate care, for example, when they attempt to lift stuff that’s just too heavy.
The sack truck is only a small part of the equation when it comes to keeping yourself safe while using one. It’s important to look at other factors like:
- What are you moving and how heavy/ awkward is it?
- Where are you moving it to? Is there sufficient space?
- How to use a sack truck without injury?
- Who will be using the sack truck?
Table of Contents
What Is a Sack Truck?
The sack truck uses the principle of leverage – and while we don’t know who invented it, hand truck patents began to appear from the mid-18th century and the principles of leverage date back to the times of the Greeks and Romans.
A sack truck’s key components are; the handles, the body or torso, the toe plate, the heel (what your cargo sits on), the axel (takes a beating if used regularly) and the wheels. Lastly, the brakes are used as an extra measure of control.
The truck provides the leverage to roll the weight forward after balancing it by tilting the handles backwards and stepping on the tow plate to lift the cargo off the ground. Weighty cargo is cupped between the heel and the torso and the wheels allow you to move forward with minimum effort.
When and How are Sack Trucks Used?
Used properly, a sack truck puts minimal pressure on the operator – not requiring him or her to bend their backs and otherwise get into awkward positions that can produce an injury.
A sack truck is useful in situations where manual loads must be moved frequently and over a distance too large to be moved by hand – for example, warehouses, construction sites and docks. They are also used, albeit less frequently, by homeowners when transporting heavy and potentially unwieldy objects that can fit on a sack truck.
How to Use a Sack Truck Safely
Before you use a sack truck, check on a few things first:
- Is the terrain stable enough for the wheels?
- Are the wheels rolling smoothly with no mechanical hitches?
- In particular, do the wheels feel wobbly or broken?
- Does the truck feel well balanced (i.e., stable)?
- Do the brakes work?
- Does any other part feel broken?
- Is there a need to secure the load?
Who Can Use a Sack Track, and How?
A sack truck is meant to be used by everyone, provided they exercise some common sense.
Consider wearing a safety belt around your midriff if what you’re moving is particularly heavy.
In general, it’s a simple enough principle. You place the load on the toe of the sack truck, taking care of a few details:
- Check for the weight limit. Most basic sack trucks are designed to carry loads up to 100 kg (220 lbs.) but larger ones can go all the way up to 400 kilos (880 lbs.).
- Put the heaviest loads at the bottom, and lighter loads on top.
- Tilt the handle back and check to see that the entire unit rolls forward smoothly.
- Make sure that the overall assembly is not unstable, which may happen if the items are not stacked correctly.
- Tilt the handle back to make sure that the load “hefts” normally – that is, it doesn’t feel unwieldy or off its centre of gravity.
- Check again to ensure that there are no mechanical problems (e.g., loose fittings) related to the body of the sack truck.
- See if the whole unit moves forward smoothly without any special exertions.
- Don’t attempt to move a load higher than waist height without assistance.
- Always wear sturdy shoes to protect your feet when shifting heavy items.
- Don’t attempt to move heavy items when you’re tired or stressed as you’re far more likely to get injured. Don’t attempt to move a load higher than waist height without assistance.
Last Checks Before Using Your Sack Truck
In addition to securing the load and checking for the security of the sack truck itself, you should check to make sure that the terrain is favourable.
One of the things to watch out for with a sack truck is a sudden trip or hitch, which can cause disaster if it stops the truck suddenly.
Here are some of the additional things to watch out for:
- Consider using a kerb ramp if there is a pavement edge between you and your destination.
- Use door stops to hold any doors open.
- Make sure that there are no slippery surfaces to negotiate.
- Make sure there is no undulating or broken floor that could cause you to trip and fall or stop the sack truck suddenly.
- Make sure that the terrain is not on a steep gradient. You will have to work harder in terms of exerting yourself to go uphill, and you will need to expend a lot of energy to control the momentum of a heavy load going downhill.
Final Thoughts
The sack truck when used properly allows for a plethora of heavy lifting activities without much risk in terms of injury. They make it possible for one person to move anything from construction material to furniture.
Moving heavy items must be one of the most common causes of back injury and by taking some basic precautions you can make sure this doesn’t happen to you!
