SCIENCE AND

MATERIALS
HND
 Construction Material Handling

• Construction material handling can be quite stressful and even dangerous for
construction workers. They have to deliver, move and control thousands of
pounds of construction materials for construction projects to go according
to budget and schedule.
• That is why we’ll give you actionable steps you can take today to increase
safety for your workers, the local community, and the environment.
 Construction Material Handling

• Providing Safety Training for Your Workers

• Having Safety Procedures for Material Handling
• Safe Storage of Materials
• Knowing the Requirements for Material Handling
• Disposing Waste Adequately
• Conclusion
 Construction Material Handling

• Every day, they operate heavy equipment and work in different temperature
conditions while handling materials. They move from 25,000 to 30,000
pounds of materials per day.
• That includes lifting boxes and buckets, throwing bags on pallets, and
transporting them with forklifts and stackers.
• If they’re not careful, they can sustain minor injuries like cuts, bruises, or
burns. What is more, improper material handling can also lead to more
severe injuries like fractures and, in the worst-case scenario, fatalities.
Construction Material Handling
 Construction Material Handling

• Actually, any quality training program should consist of the following topics:
• Personal protective equipment for material handling
• Correct use of tools and equipment for material handling
• Proper lifting procedures (for manual handling)
• Personal risk factors for sprains and injuries
• Useful warm-up techniques before lifting
 Construction Material Handling

• Among others, there are

• PowerPoint presentations,
• one-to-one interactions,
• practical training sessions,
• YouTube tutorials, and 3
• D animation.
 Construction Material Handling

• After your workers get adequate safety training about handling construction
materials, you have to set additional safety procedures that apply directly to
the conditions of
• For example, have specific safety procedures if you’re frequently working in
low-lit areas or at heights. This could mean constructing ramps so employees
can access work areas on different levels or ensuring that all aisles and
passageways are clear for moving materials.
 Construction Material Handling

• It’s important to show your workers that you have their safety and well-being
in mind. Putting safety as one of the main priorities in the company will also
encourage employees to follow safety measures.
• After all, when employees feel safe in a workplace, they’re more motivated,
productive, and loyal to their company.
 Construction Material Handling

Use leather hand gloves and safety boots because

Sheet metal
of the sharp edges of the sheet metal.

Use a barrel lifting handle to roll up or down on

Barrel and drum
a ramp.

Employees must wear hand gloves, long leather

Glass panes
sleeves, leg guards, and safety boots.
 Construction Material Handling

Pipes, bars, and timber should be carried over the shoulder with
Long objects the front end raised. To protect from abrasions, all employees
must wear shoulder pads.

When handling misshaped pieces, employees must wear

Scrap metal
goggles, leather gloves, an apron, leg guards, and safety boots.

Gas cylinders These containers should not be dragged on the floors.

The proper way to move boxes and cartons is to grab the

Boxes, cartons, and bags
opposite top and bottom corners.
Construction Material Handling
 Construction Material Handling

• So, let’s briefly cover how you can responsibly handle chemicals on your
construction site to guarantee safety and compliance.
• Construction sites are full of chemicals and materials that need to be stored
carefully, so they don’t come in contact with each other.
• Flammable liquids such as paints and adhesives can pose a great fire risk
when exposed to heat, oxidizers, and inorganic acids.
 Construction Material Handling

• On the other hand, cement and plaster additives are corrosive materials that
can threaten the environment or workers’ health.
• There are also sealers, cleaners, fuel, and lubricants that you need to pay close
attention to if you want to avoid hazards.
• So, how do you store dangerous construction materials and chemicals?
 Construction Material Handling

• First, find an area in your storage away from heat sources, smoking areas, and
high machinery traffic. This space should be properly labeled to alert people.
Keep it well-ventilated to avoid the build-up of toxic vapors.
• Consider storing individual chemicals and materials in separate containers
that are sealed to prevent spillage or leaks.
 Construction Material Handling

• When it comes to storage cans, there are many types you can use, but their
capacity should not exceed 5 gallons.
• They also need to have a leak-proof lid, flame arresters, and pressure relief.
Most cans are metallic, but you can also find non-metallic ones for storing
corrosive chemicals.
• Finally, storage cabinets are specially designed to keep all your dangerous
chemicals and materials in one fireproof and spillproof container.
 Construction Material Handling

• Some important safety features include:

• Sloped shelves to prevent spills
• Thick, durable steel construction
• Flush handles that you can lock with keys or padlocks
• 3-point latching system with self-closing doors
• Reflective and legible signage
 Construction Material Handling

• enforce them on your construction site.

• Here are some of them:
• Employees should avoid overloading the equipment when moving materials.
• Employers must display maximum capacity on each piece of equipment.
• If workers pick items with a powered machine, they have to center the load
to minimize tipping or load falling.
• Arrange the cargo to the lowest position when traveling.
 Construction Material Handling

• Arrange the cargo to the lowest position when traveling.

• Pile and cross-tier all stacked materials.
• Stored materials mustn’t cause tripping, fires, explosions, and cause pest
infestation.
• Remove nails from lumber before stacking.
• Ensure stacked materials are well-supported and stable.
 Construction Material Handling

• So, one way to combat large accumulations of construction waste is to have

an effective waste management system.
• Most commonly, this includes a dedicated area where you’ll keep skips for
various materials your employees can sort into recyclable, reusable, and
general waste.
• Which skip/bin size you’ll need will depend on the scope of your project
and the amount of waste you’ll clear out on the site. Getting the largest one
might not be cost-effective if you cannot even fill it halfway
 Construction Material Handling

• Here are some other actionable steps you can take:

• Barricade the waste management area to limit access and exposure to
hazardous material.
• Use an enclosed chute for workers to drop debris from elevated areas.
• Use separate containers for materials contaminated with oil or flammable
liquids.
 Construction Material Handling

• Conclusion
• Proper material handling and storage can have enormous benefits for your
company. If you implement proper practices, you can significantly increase
safety on your worksites, but also reduce costs and optimize workflows.
• Remember that worksite safety is a team effort when handling materials.
Once you adequately train your employees, you also need to enforce good
safety procedures they can follow and keep everyone accountable.