Pallet lifters are specialised pallet lifting aids which are designed to lift and move either full or empty pallets without the use of a forklift. Depending on the style of pallet lifter, pallets may be moved across a distance or up and down if stacking onto or removing pallets from shelving or vehicles.
Pallet lifters can be either:
- manual requiring a pumping action on the handle to lift pallets to allow movement
- manual with hydraulic assistance
- electric with push button controls for lift, lower, forwards and reverse using a rechargeable battery
- pallet lift and lift table in one unit
- pallet lifting attachment for a hoist or crane for lifting and transferring pallets on construction sites, warehouses, docks or into or out of open topped trucks.
Specialised types of pallet lifters include:
- low profile pallet lifters for low profile pallets
- large wheeled pallet lifters for uneven terrain or extra heavy loads
- all terrain pallet trucks with pneumatic wheels for rough terrain with options of tow ball attachment to be towed by a tractor or gas powered motor for lifting assistance
- alternative coatings such as stainless steel, galvanised, zinc and chrome plated to cater for laboratory or wet areas
- pallet lifters with digital or push button scales for weighing loads
- pallet lifters with set back forks from front wheels to allow close loading of pallets
- pallet lifters which allow movement of long loads such as lengths of timber along or through narrow areas
- battery transfer roller system which can be mounted onto a pallet truck to assist with removal of batteries from under vehicles.
Pallet turners involve a range of products on which pallets can be placed to allow for pallet rotation and height adjustability as the weight of the pallet either increases or decreases such as during loading from a production line. Pallet turning equipment options available include:
- thin discs or rings on which pallets are placed and allow pallet rotation using minimal force
- pallet tables which automatically adjust in height depending on product or pallet weight, as well as pallet rotation which ensure pallet loading or unloading can be done at waist height
- powered pallet turners to assist with shrink wrapping without having to walk around the pallet
- pallet tippers and tilters.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
For people with disability that restricts the capacity to lift and manouvre items within the workplace such as pallets or those that are loading stock on and off pallets, pallet lifters or turners may be of assistance to minimise work lifting and bending requirements. However the provision of lifting equipment should be part of an integrated organisational approach to occupational health and safety, and should be used to complement other manual handling hazard control methods.
References
Bremco 2008, BMP057 Palift, Bremco Metal Products, Archerfield, viewed 1 September 2011, http://www.bremco.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=26_46&products_id=110.
Bremco 2008 Pallet Jacks, Bremco Metal Products, Archerfield, viewed 1 September 2011, http://www.bremco.com.au/index.php?cPath=26_45.
Materials Handling 2005, Pallet Exchange Tilter, Pallet Handling, Materials Handling Pty Ltd, Sydney, viewed 1 September 2011, http://www.materialshandling.com.au/pc-2378-126-pallet-exchange-tilter.aspx.
Safe Work Australia 2005, National Code of Practice for Manual Handling, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, viewed 1 September 2011, http://safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Documents/97/NationalCodeOfPractice_ManualHandling_NOHSC2005-1990_ArchivePDF.pdf.
WorkCover New South Wales 2011, Manual Handling Hierarchy of Controls, New South Wales Government, Sydney, viewed 1 September 2011, http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/hierarchy_of_controls_5620.pdf.