Dan M

How to Use an Eyewash Station

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Proper use of an eyewash stationInjuries caused by chemicals in the eyes can be among the most painful and most dangerous in the workplace. As a result, it is essential to install eyewash stations in your warehouse or work yard if there is the chance that employees may be exposed to caustic substances.

If you accidentally get caustic chemicals in your eyes, the first thing to remember is not to panic. Make your way as quickly as possible to the nearest eyewash station, shouting out to your co-workers for help as you go. When you arrive at the eyewash station, turn the eyewash on using either the foot controls or the faucet spigots. Remove any contact lenses or glasses and rinse both eyes with copious amounts of water for at least 15  minutes.

Continuous Flushing for At Least 15 Minutes

As you are flushing your eyes, use your hands to hold your eyelids open to ensure adequate flushing of the chemical irritants from your eyes. If you are in pain, this may be difficult to do but it is essential to removing the chemicals from your eyes as quickly as possible. In the meantime, notify one of your co-workers to contact emergency personnel by calling 9-1-1. You should continue rinsing your eyes until emergency medical personnel arrive to assist you further.  Avoid rubbing your eyes because this may push the chemicals deeper into your eye sockets, potentially causing additional harm and pain.

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New Orders Forecast for Material Handling Equipment

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Material handling equipment new orders grew by over 7% in 2012, and are expected to grow by 5 or 6% by the end of 2013. The growth it is expected to be at 10% by 2014. States MHI executive consultant, Hal Vandiver, “as the current US economic expansion shifts from capital expenditure driven to consumer-led, … Read more

Proper Use of Safety Cans

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Safety cans are used to store dangerous and flammable chemicals, such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel. They are specifically designed to ensure that these materials are kept safe and handled property to reduce the risk of fire or explosion. Safety cans include a number of features that make them the preferred choice of Underwriters Laboratories … Read more

A Little Planning Can Improve Warehouse Racking Efficiency

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warehouse rackingIf you are considering installing new shelving in your warehouse or replacing existing shelving to make it more practical, taking the time to consider the long-term implications of your warehouse racking system can increase efficiency and reduce long-term costs.

The first thing to consider is your storage density. Deep-lane storage opportunities — such as double-deep, drive-in, drive-though, pallet-flow and push-back racks — can make your warehouse more versatile and profitable. Obviously, if you need continual access to every pallet in our facility at all times, deep-lane storage is not the best option. But if you don’t require 100% selectivity, it usually will pay off in the long run.

FIFO or LIFO?

Before making a storage density decision, you need to consider whether your warehouse is Last-In First-Out (LIFO), or First-In First-Out (FIFO). FIFO operations do better with pallet flow racks while LIFO lends itself to deep-lane storage. If you use buried loads in a LIFO operation, you could be unnecessarily increasing your material handling labor cost.

Another thing to consider is your picking profile. Are your typical orders primarily picking pallets, cases or pieces? Do you pick from bulk to replenish a forward pick zone? How you configure your warehouse racking will be a function of your most common picking profiles. While most setups are not 100% efficient, by building your flow to your most common picking profiles, you can optimize your efficiency the greatest number of times.

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Choosing the Right Hearing Protective Equipment

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There are many factors to consider when selecting the right hearing protective equipment for your warehouse or manufacturing facility. Protective equipment comes in all shapes and at various levels of noise exposure. Choosing the most cost-effective solution for you that will provide the optimal amount of protection without cutting out too much noise can be a fine line … Read more

Pallet Management

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We often take pallets for granted, but we shouldn’t. Pallets make it easy to move heavy loads of materials safely and efficiently. Yet they are a relatively new technology in materials handling. While loads of products have been moved on pallets since the development of the lift truck in the 1920s and ’30s, it wasn’t … Read more

How to Select a Storage Shed

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how to select a storage shedAs any homeowner can attest, outdoor gardening supplies and equipment tend to accumulate very quickly. It doesn’t take long for a garage intended for parking cars become overrun with hoses, sprinklers, lawn mowers, pool supplies, gardening soil and other items that take up lots of space. That’s why buying a pre-manufactured storage shed is an attractive option for so many people.

Storage sheds provide practicality because they can be used to store all kinds of outdoor supplies and equipment in an orderly and secure manner, freeing up valuable garage space for vehicles. They also can add aesthetic value to your backyard, especially with the wide varieties of sizes, texture and colors available today. Some storage sheds come with sidings that can match your home, your garage or other structures on your property.

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All About Casters

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All about castersWhile many people think all casters are the same, in truth there are different types of casters for various jobs. Depending on what your needs are, you may prefer hard rubber casters that provide efficiency and stability in a warehouse setting or you may need softer rubber casters that won’t harm showroom or exhibit hall floors. Buying the right caster for the right job can make all the difference in the world.

When selecting the proper caster for a particular piece of equipment, you need to consider a number of different factors, including:

  • Productivity
  • Safety and Ergonomics
  • Floor Protection
  • Rollability
  • Capacity
  • Floor Obstructions and Operating Environment
  • Cost/Value

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Aerial Work Platform Safety: Up and Down

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Aerial Work Platform Safety cannot be stressed enough. On average, 50 people a year are killed while using them. This number does not even encompass accidents involving the operator and bystanders; both reported and not reported. Most, if not all, of the deaths and injury can easily be avoided by a few simple rules. Following … Read more

The Importance of Forklift Preventive Maintenance

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Preventive Maintenance Makes Everyone HappyToo often big business tries to cut back on doing preventive maintenance in attempts to cut back on overhead. Small to medium sized business will often try to do the same. This is a huge mistake and ends up costing more in the long run. In this post we will discuss the advantages of preventive maintenance (PM) and how not participating in a PM program in regards to your equipment is the same as just breaking it yourself.

Gaining Control of the Situation

Preventive maintenance is the foundation of any maintenance strategy. Having a strategy in place means that you schedule 80% of your maintenance at least a week in advance without losing any equipment. Some of you are thinking this is impossible because you would need an extra forklift as the ones you are currently using are going nearly 24/7 as it is. No, you do not need an extra, you are already short one.

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