Using Hand Trucks In Stairways

A hand truck is a great tool that can be used to move or carry packages, material or cargo from one place to another. If a load is too heavy to manually carry using your arms, a hand cart comes to the rescue.

For most people navigating cargo, packages, or material up or down a flight of stairs may seem like a daunting task even with a dolly. However, carrying loads up or down stairs can be safely done using a hand cart.

The first thing that you need to do is inspect your hand cart. You need to look for any damage along the frame and the wheels. Are the wheels properly inflated? Does the frame have bends and dents? Are there any cracks of fractures along the nose or the blades? You also need to look for any wear in the glides and make sure no metal is visible. Check the wheels for any punctures. Remember that damaged equipment can lead to accidents or injury.

Next, you need to make sure that you stack the load onto the cart and keeping the load centered. Make sure that the maximum weight capacity is not exceeded. You need to make sure that the load is distributed on the nose or the blade. If the dolly has straps, secure the load with them.

You now need to angle the truck while making sure that the load being carried is steady. Position the hand cart to the bottom or top of the stairs that you need to either get down of or up on. If the truck has those plastic glide strips, position them on the lip of the stairs. Now the process of going down or up is different.

Make sure that you avoid getting any neck strain by keeping your head up. It would be advisable to avoid looking down at your cargo. You would better use the cart's gliders to slide your load as you pull the loaded hand cart up or as you are pushing it down a single step at a time while keeping your legs apart.

Ascending the stairs safely is best accomplished by ascending backwards having the hand truck in front of you and comfortably titled towards you. Having someone who can spot you would be a good idea.

Going down the stairs is done by having the hand truck between your legs in front of you and facing forward. Step down a single step at a time. It would be best to have the load strapped to the hand cart. If there are no straps, you can simply tie the load onto the hand truck for safety.

Handtrucks2go has recently expanded their line to carry a full selection of Hotel Bellman Carts and presentation carts and stations.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6399369

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