Choosing the Correct Storage Bins

Plastic storage bins are great for storing and organizing parts, screws, tools and many other materials. To get the most out of plastic storage bins it is important to choose one made from a material that works with what is being stored.

Polyethylene Plastic: Offers excellent chemical resistance, strength, toughness and durability. Well suited for typical manufacturing environments. Works well in a wide range of temperatures. At temperatures above 120 degrees the material loses some strength.

Polystyrene Plastic: Known for rigidity and stiffness, much stiffer than polyethylene.

Polypropylene: Same properties as Polyethylene, but can withstand heat of up to 150 degrees without losing strength.

Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester: Dimensional stability, high weight capacity and the ability to handle extreme temperatures (-60 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit) are all properties of fiberglass reinforced bins.

ESD-Safe: Great for rooms with electronic equipment. Protects electronics from damage caused by static electricity.

Safety Matting Overview

Falls and slips are are common workplace accidents that can easily be prevented. Installing high quality matting greatly reduces the chances of falls and provides workers with a comfortable surface for standing. Non-slip matting works great in areas where liquids, and grease can cause slippery floors. Below are some common terms related to matting.

Anti-Microbial: Compound doesn’t support growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. Perfect for locker rooms, swimming pools, gyms and other high bacteria environment.

Compression Deflection: The softness or comfort of a sponge mat. Measures how much a person’s foot sinks into the matting. Softer mats are great for workers who spend their day standing.

Durometer: Hardness/Softness of molded rubber mats.

ESD: Electro-Static Discharge. ESD mats prevent static electricity from damaging electronics.

Coefficient of Friction: The measure of traction provided by the matting. OSHA recommends a Coefficient of Friction .5 in dry areas and .25 in wet.

Plastic Pallets: The Next Generation of Pallets

Wooden pallets have become a staple of material handling but in today’s world they may not be the best choice. Wood pallets break, rot, quickly degenerate and use valuable natural resources. Plastic pallets are recyclable and can be reused many more times than standard pallets. Plastic pallets reduce worker injuries. Because of their lightweight modular design that eliminates exposed screws and nails they are safer to work with. The ability to withstand heavy loads and impacts are another strength of plastic pallets, plastic pallets do a better job of protecting products from damage.

Pallet Terms:

• Nestable: Pallets that take up less space when stored.
• Rackable/Stackable: Pallets with reinforced bottom rails for stacking on storage racks.
• Dynamic Capacity: Capacity of pallet in motion.
• Static Capacity: Capacity of pallet when stationary.
• Racking Capacity: Capacity of the pallet with evenly distributed load on unsupported rack.

For more on plastic pallets visit Materialflow.com or call them at 1-800-338-1382.

Material Handling Safety Guide Part 2

To prevent injuries ergonomics must be incorporated when designing a material handling system or purchasing new equipment. Accidents will always happen, but the chances must be reduced. There are several things you can do to minimize material handling injuries. Here are some general questions to consider when reducing material handling injuries.

• Can the job be designed to eliminate material handling activity?
• Can materials be moved by conveyor or other mechanical device?
• Can the materials themselves cause an injury?
• Are their handling aids available that can reduce injuries?

Not considering the “people’ aspect of material handling can lead to costly mistakes and increases costs. Material Flow can assist in warehouse/plant design and layout.

Preventing Back Injuries: Back injuries are the most common in the material handling industry. One study found that 70% of back injuries involved lifting, lowering, carrying or pushing/pulling. Lifting from the floor is the most dangerous form of lifting. The simplest solution to back injuries is to not store heavy objects on the floor, if they must be placed on the floor put them on a pallet and use a pallet jack or truck to move the item. Another cause of back injuries is standing on a hard floor for extended periods of time. Safety mats can prevent falls on slick surfaces and provide a comfortable surface to stand on

Aisle Safety: Keeping aisles clear of debris is one of the most important steps in worker safety. Wide aisles allow workers to move freely and leave enough room for work trucks to get by. Installing mirrors lets workers see around corners and prevents collisions.

Loading Dock Safety: Loading docks are inherently dangerous in nature. It is important to monitor worker safety in these areas. Dockboards used to load and unload trailers should be designed to carry four times their heaviest load. They should also provide enough width for material handling equipment. Chalking trailer wheels and using trailer jacks is a must. A dock lighting system can also prevent accidents, speed bumps can help control dock traffic.

Rack and Bin Storage: Keeping storage racks and bins secured to the floor or wall prevents falls. Never exceed storage capacities. Don’t let parts project into aisles. Don’t overload containers in racks, this can lead to falling objects.

Carts: Lower handle heights are better for pulling rather than pushing. Adjustable handles allow ergonomics to match the operator. Pushing offers more power than pulling.

Material Handling Safety Guide Part 1

Safety is a huge concern for those in material handling industries. One conservative estimate says that 20-25% of all on the job injuries are the result of handling materials either manually or mechanically. While technology has provide many safety advancements accidents still happen and care must always be taken to avoid accidents. Sprains and strains are the most common type of material handing injuries. Improper lifting, gripping or not wearing the proper equipment can lead to these types of injuries. While these injuries place the blame on the workers themselves it is possible that the work area layout is causing injuries. If workers have to make awkward movements, bend down to far or reach to high for objects this can lead to an increased number of injuries.

One important thing to remember about worker safety is that not all accidents lead to death or even an injury. Say a worker is running a conveyor system and his shirt gets caught in the belting, he manages to pull it out and avoid injury. The next day the same thing happens only he gets pulled in and loses an arm. Two accidents occurred from the same cause, but only one resulted in serious injury. If a guard would have be installed on that conveyor after the first accident the worker wouldn’t have had the second accident. It is important for management to keep an eye on all accidents and near misses and take the appropriate safety measures after they happen, don’t just assume it was a one time problem.

There are two types of injuries in the material handling industry. Trauma and non-trauma. Trauma injuries involve workers being injured by the materials they are handling. Cuts, bruises, broken bones, lacerations and head injuries are all examples of trauma injuries. One of the most common causes of trauma injuries is by dropped materials. While proper handling procedures can reduce injuries equipping workers with the proper equipment can reduce the amount of injury that occurs. Metatarsal and foot protection, gloves, goggles or other eye protection and hard hats should be used where applicable.Non-trauma injuries are caused by lifting, twisting, bending, pushing and pulling objects. These types of injuries can cause harm to the back, neck and other muscle groups, Back injuries are a big problem in material handling, but with the proper training and use of powered equipment the number can be reduced.

Part 2

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Ordering a Conveyor System

Is your belt conveyor system outdated? Has your warehouse or plant changed over the years? If so it might be time to upgrade. An upgraded conveyor system can increase productivity and profits. When purchasing a conveyor system it is important to get professional advice. By answering the following questions you can give an engineer a better idea of what your business needs.

• What is the horizontal distance that materials are going to be conveyed?
• What is the vertical height of the material that is going to be lifted or lowered?
• What kind of material is going to be conveyed?
• What is its weight per cubic foot?
• What is the average required capacity in tons per hour?
• How is the flow of material going to be controlled?
• What are the dimensions of the largest lumps? What percentage of the total volume to be handled will consist of this maximum size lump?
• What properties does the material possess? Hot, wet, cold, oily, sticky, abrasive, corrosive?
• How many loading and discharge points are there? Where are these points located?
• How is the material discharged from the conveyor? Pulley, tripper?
• Where would the most convenient location for the drive be?
• Is the prime mover an electric motor or internal combustion engine?
• What are the current specifications of the motor?
• Is the material to be weighed in transit on the belt?
• Is the material going to be sampled as it moves on the conveyor?

If you’re not comfortable with trying to install your own conveyor system there are many places that will do it for you, including Material Flow. They have years of conveyor system expertise and can configure a conveyor system for nearly any situation. Give them a call at 1-800-338-1382.

Caster Bearing Guide

Casters keep your business rolling, high quality casters increase worker productivity and reduce worker fatigue. When purchasing casters it’s important to choose the right bearing for the job. Bearings keep wheels moving freely and are a key to long lasting casters. Read about the different types of bearings below.

• Tapered Roller Bearings: Great for heavy duty and powered applications. Tapered faces handle harsh downward and side forces.
• Precision Ball Bearings: Excellent rollability, not intended for applications where side thrust is an issues. Ball bearings reduce maintenance costs because they are greased at the factory.
• Straight Roller Bearings:The standard in anti-friction bearings for industrial equipment.
• Plastic Bearings: Excellent for environments not suitable for metal. Resistant to chemicals and corrosion.
• Oiless Sleeve Bearings: Works well with light loads.
• Non-Precision Ball Bearings: Un-ground radial type suitable for light to medium duty applications.

The Benefits of Pallet Flow Racks

Pallet flow rack saves time and money by dramatically reducing the time required for order picking. A well designed carton flow rack system keeps the most popular products at the ideal level for workers and allows the oldest products to be taken first. Pallet flow rack are equipped with either skate-wheel or ball bearings depending on the application. Many systems are designed to work with existing pallet rack, this allows for a combination of pallet rack and flow rack; the best of both worlds. Another benefit of flow rack is that tilted shelves reduce worker fatigue and injuries by keeping product at the front of the shelf, no more bending and stretching. Pallet Flow Rack will also increase space utilization in your existing structure, helping defer or avoid the costs of building and maintaining new structures.

Successful Pallet Flow system design requires the following:

• An experienced vendor, to ensure the initial system design is appropriate for your application.
• Installation by experienced personnel who understand the ins-and-outs of making these systems function properly.
• A durable structure to support the flow lanes. Use high quality pallet rack that is built to last.
• A knowledgeable system integrator, with a working knowledge of how to combine your flow rack system with other elements of your storage facility, such as Pick Modules, Push-Back Racks and more.

Material Flow and Conveyor Systems is one of the largest pallet rack dealers on the west coast, give them a call at 1-800-338-1382

Air Compressor Safety Tips

Air compressors are one of the most important pieces of equipment a shop can have. Air compressors can be used to power tools, inflate tires, and clean the shop. Like any tool air compressors require special safety precautions. The following tips can reduce the risk of injury and extend the life of your air compressor.

- Make sure all fittings, pipes, and hoses meet or exceed the maximum pressure of the compressor.

- Keep air hoses free of grease and oil, this will add life to your air compressor.

- Do not string hoses across floors or aisles where they could be a trip hazard. Suspending hoses overhead is the best solution.

- Secure hose ends, this prevents whipping if a cut or break occurs.

- Wear eye protection.

- Never operate air compressors faster than manufacturers limits.