3 Benefits Of Operating An Electric Pallet Jack

Injuries at the workplace are still quite common today, more than we’d like them to be, particularly the musculoskeletal disorders affecting the neck, back and shoulders resulting from overexertion injuries, though when it comes to the industrial environment a great deal of them can be avoided with the help of material handling equipment created to do the physical effort for you, doing all the lifting, pulling, pushing, holding and carrying.

Apart from the physical impact and the resulting pain, rarely anyone considers the emotional impact injuries leave behind, not only on the injured employees but their families too, struggling with lost wages and financial issues. Not to even mention the awkward situation left behind for coworkers and supervisors.

When looking at the point of view of the company, there are also considerable losses to think about, like that of losing qualified and competent employees, the greatest assets, as well as having the reputation shaken up and dealing with extra costs like those from compensation claims and training replacement employees which can negatively impact the productivity and the business as a whole.

All of this is easily avoidable with the use of suitable equipment. One of the basic pieces of such equipment, the electric pallet jack is a ride-on lifting unit powered by electric battery and is used to lift and move pallets, most commonly in small and medium warehouses alike, as well as other small indoor environments like storage facilities, construction sites and manufacturing plants.

Fact is, some companies try to avoid this investment, opting to invest in training workers how to handle materials instead, with tips and exercises focusing on bending, reaching and lifting techniques to prevent sprains and strains, however it’s not that effective of a solution as is acquiring the suitable equipment when it comes to really reducing the chances for injuries.

The electric pallet jack, or also known as pallet stacker, is a perfect tool for small lifting tasks that do not require large forklifts with a lot of power. It relies on sufficient amount of power from its electrical battery to lift, push, pull and move pallets.

If this doesn’t sound impressive, perhaps the fact the battery enables the forklift to operate for several hours on end would. The charging process is very simple: the worker only needs to attach the cables of the battery to a power source. With a set of hydraulically operated fork blades and wheels, the electric pallet jack works very efficiently.

The electric pallet jacks are mostly used in indoor environments for smaller lifting tasks and are an ideal alternative to the expensive large forklifts. Although the large forklifts can deal with heavy-duty lifting applications in warehouses, the electric pallet jacks still happen to be a great cost-effective alternative.

Furthermore, you won’t have to worry much about the training either because the design is created to be user-friendly thanks to the simple controls, allowing for piece of cake manoeuvrability and turning, that don’t take long to be learned so any worker can operate these easy-to-use units.
You may find training to be unnecessary, given the lightweight design of the jacks, however they can be just as dangerous as heavy-duty jacks when not operated properly.

Additionally, the training should also include the reviewing of safe practices, a practice run, how and when to charge, how to carry out inspection prior to every use checking for the charging cords and whether the wheels are unbalanced, and in some cases how to do maintenance. Maintenance is essential for prolonging the lifespan of the pallet jacks and preventing serious problems such as physical injuries and equipment damages.

Here are some benefits that would convince you to use electric pallet jack.
Capable to Quickly Cover Huge Distance – The first benefit of operating an electric pallet jack is its ability to cover huge distances quickly and efficiently. In large warehouses, workers often need to lift and move pallets from one end to the other.

The electric pallet jack allows them to perform these operations without any problems. The electric pallet jacks are extensively used in small warehouses and even in some large warehouses, as they are very efficient, more so than the manual alternative and help increase the workers productivity significantly.

It’s needless to say, where there’s an increase in the productivity, there’s also an improvement in the quality of work and as a result there’s reduction in costs such as those that stem from compensation claims thus one can expect more profits. This being said, it pays off to invest in material handling equipment of the sort.

Quiet & Safe for Workers – Compared to the gas powered or diesel powered forklifts, the ride on electric pallet jack works very quietly, which is important in smaller warehouses and other small working areas where noise pollution affects the quality of work.

Without loud and unbearable noises, the workers can do their jobs more efficiently without being the slightest bit annoyed, worrying about any hearing loss or ear plugs. Also, with a battery pallet jack there are no fumes because it does not use fuel for work thus it eliminates the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, something highly important for enclosed workspaces. On the plus side too, you won’t have to worry about fuel costs or whether or not you comply with the eco regulations.

Other more than welcome safety features in a small electric pallet jack of quality to look for are multi-functional ergonomic handles, emergency braking buttons, as well as steel guards to prevent foot injuries. Likewise, to count on smooth operation, it’s important to check the loading capacity, the weight as well as the height the jacks are designed to lift prior to the purchase.

Excellent Visibility – With compact design and no complex components, the electric pallet jack provides the operators with excellent visibility, especially at the front, so there’s a good view of the surrounding area and the load. As a result, the employee using the electric pallet jack can easily and quickly attach pallets in warehouses. It’s needless to say the excellent visibility reduces the chances for accidents.