Section XIII. Safety Practices for Non-powered MHE

TM 38-100/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

important when the floor of the platform is lower or

bon Monoxide. Normal control measures to protect

higher than the floor of the car or vice versa. Drive

health of personnel against such gases will not be

slowly when mounting or driving over the bridge plates

relaxed when MHE, with exhaust gas purification

in rainy weather, or when icy conditions prevail. Bridge

devices attached, are operated within enclosed and

plates will be

unventilated areas. Carbon monoxide detector tubes or

direct reading instrumentation should be obtained and

(1) Equipped with stops at both ends near the

used by trained personnel to measure carbon monoxide

edges of the platform or the car or truck to prevent plate

levels. Use of petroleum fueled MHE with exhaust gas

from sliding.

purification devices is warranted in high density confined

operations only when carbon monoxide poisoning is a

(2) Equipped with adjustable stops of

hazard and when battery-powered type is not available.

different lengths permanently located in channels or

When high density operations are performed, in closed

slots. The use of steel pins as stops is not authorized.

warehouses using petroleum fueled MHE, carbon

(3) Of sufficient length to provide support of

monoxide constant measuring instruments or indicators,

approximately 8 inches at all times.

fixed to area walls or mounted on mobile equipment, will

(4) So constructed to provide handholds for

be used in addition to the detector kit and indicator tube.

manually lifting or other means for lifting by fork truck.

Exhaust gas purification device(s) will be procured and

used only when authorized by the appropriate authority

(5) Constructed with a rough or checkered

of the military service having jurisdiction.

surface to reduce skidding or slipping.

(6) Equipped with safety curbs to prevent fork

truck runoff.

b. Bridge plates. Information on bridge plates

(dock-boards) is contained in 29 CFR 1910.30 and

(7) Marked to indicate the load capacity.

1910.178. A bridge plate must be strong enough to

(8) Checked frequently during lengthy

support the equipment and load which traverses it and

loading/unloading operations.

long enough to bridge the gap it spans with adequate

support area at both ends. The length, especially, is

Section XIII. Safety Practices for Non-powered MHE

6-67. Standard safety pallet (29 CFR 1910.178).

6-65. Hand trucks.

Standard safety pallet (described in para 4-10k) and not

a. Two-wheel hand truck. The two-wheeled hand

the ordinary pallet will be used with forklift trucks in the

truck will not be used to transport units of material heavy

following operations:

enough to cause undue strain or risk to personnel.

b. Barrel hand truck. Barrel-type hand trucks

a. To elevate personnel to a sufficient height

should be provided for personnel to move drums, large

above the floor of the warehouse for the purpose of

kegs of material, or other cylindrical units to prevent

storing material on an elevated pallet or when removing

rolling or slipping of the material causing possible

individual items from elevated pallets.

damage to material or injury to personnel.

b. To elevate personnel performing maintenance

c. Hand trucks with sparkproof wheels or rims.

work on the inside or outside of warehouses. Personnel

Hand trucks with sparkproof wheels or rims will be used

will not be elevated on the forks of the forklift truck

only for work requiring such equipment, in areas or

without the use of the safety pallet.

rooms where materials of highly flammable,

c. Whenever a truck is equipped with vertical only,

combustible, or explosive nature are stored or handled.

or vertical and horizontal controls elevatable with the

d. Non-powered hand pallet truck. Non-powered

lifting carriage or forks for lifting personnel, the following

hand pallet trucks will not be used to move loads in

additional precautions shall be taken for the protection

excess of rated capacity.

of personnel being elevated:

(1) A safety platform firmly secured to the

6-66. Use of crowbar.

lifting carriage or forks will be provided.

In areas or rooms where highly flammable, combustible,

(2) Means shall be provided whereby

or explosive materials are stored, a crowbar or pinch bar

personnel on the platform can shut off power to the

will not be used to pry or move material as sparks may

truck.

cause fire or explosion.

6-27