BUSINESS IN MOTION: MANAGING MATERIAL HANDLING HAZARDS
WSPS.CA
6
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering
Awareness
Administrative
Personal Protective
Equipment
Decreasing
Effectiveness
Types of Controls
© 2023, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
Examples of common workplaces controls to material
handling include:
Reducing the weight and size of materials to be
moved, which helps prevent awkward postures and
promotes safe lifting practices
Purchasing equipment and tools to make material
handling easier such as carts, vacuum filters,
or dollies
Implementing job rotation to prevent repetitive
motion injuries
Adhering to safe storage practices, such as observing
load capacities, to prevent materials from tipping
or falling and causing crush-by injuries
Creating designated pedestrian and vehicle lanes in
high-traffic areas to reduce the risk of struck-
by injuries
Ensuring that moving parts on conveyors are properly
guarded to prevent entanglement
Managing hazardous energy through the
establishment of a lock-out and tag-out program,
which ensures that equipment is well-maintained
and in good working order
Step 5: Create an Action Plan
Now that we have a list of Material Handling tasks and controls, create a plan to implement
the controls. If you have many line items in your checklist, prioritize the tasks that could
cause serious injury or even fatality. When making your plan also include the resources you
will need, such as people or budget. It is also important to set a date you will complete the
action plan line item.
CREATE AN ACTION PLAN TO IMPLEMENT CONTROLS. DOCUMENT AND
IMPLEMENT CONTROLS FOR EACH HAZARD FOLLOWING THE HIERARCHY
OF CONTROLS.
