At Douglas Equipment, we are always proud to champion the items made by Wesco. They are one of the country’s leading suppliers of all types of material handling equipment, and have been since 1922. As a company, Wesco has over 500 branches all over the world, serving in excess of 80 thousand customers and generating over $7.3 billion per year in revenue. They are truly one of America’s genuine success stories.
When it comes to the items that we stock, there is perhaps none more versatile and useful as the CP3 Pallet Jack. This steel-made item can be used to slip under pallets, after which the hydraulic pump provides a powerful lift action for up to a 5500 lbs. load capacity.
The connecting forks are made from 3mm thick steel and are adjustable. Both the 7” steering wheels and the 3” load wheels are manufactured from moldon polyurethane, and provide a 210o steering capacity for easy maneuverability.
This pallet jack is truly a ‘pallet jack of all trades’, and you can prolong its effectiveness if you use it properly. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using your CP3 pallet jack:
Check the Pallet Jack Before You Use It
It’s essential that you maintain your pallet jack on a regular basis. However, it is also essential that operators check that the pallet jack is working every time that it is used. Pallet jack problems are not uncommon (although they are usually very easy to fix) so it is the responsibility of those using the pallet jack to spot problems and errors immediately. If these problems are not spotted they can make the pallet jack dangerous to use.
One common problem lies with the hydraulic oil pressure. Each time a pallet jack is used, it needs to be able to return to its default, floor-level position. If it doesn’t, then there is something wrong with the hydraulic system. If this issue is ignored, then the problem could become worse, and render your pallet jack completely inoperable and beyond easy repair. Repairing any item of mechanical equipment that has a serious problem is often expensive, and such an expense can be avoided if proper maintenance is performed on the jack at all times.
As soon as an operator spots that your CP3 Pallet Jack is not behaving as it should, take it out of commission and arrange for it to be serviced by a qualified engineer.
Don’t Exceed the Pallet Jack’s Capacity
The people who work in your warehouse will want to get their jobs done as effectively as possible, and as quickly as they can. Unfortunately, this leads to the temptation for pallet jacks to be overloaded. This is both ineffective and dangerous – an overloaded pallet jack is likely to break and become unusable, and pallet jacks that are overloaded on a frequent basis will quickly lose their effectiveness.
Wesco recommend that their CPS Pallet Jack should not be used to lift loads greater than 5,500 lbs., and this should never be exceeded.
There are several other safety considerations that come into play when you overload your pallet jack:
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Your pallet jack may be needed to transport loads up ramps. If your pallet jack is overloaded, then there is more chance of an injury to the operator as they will be over-exerting themselves.
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If your floor surfaces are uneven or slippery in places, then they become even more of an issue if your pallet jack is overloaded. A trip or slip is more likely when using excessive force to shift a load.
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Overloaded pallets are more difficult to control, and they can get away from the operator on inclines, and down narrow aisles. The damage an uncontrolled, overloaded pallet can do can be critical.
Push, Don’t Pull!
The temptation with pallet trucks is to pull. It’s easier to use your bodyweight to your advantage if you are pulling, after all (or at least that’s how it feels). When you’re pushing, it’s more about brute strength, right?
If you’ve having these discussions, then you’re doing something wrong! Using a CP3 Pallet Jack is not a question of strength or fitness. A pallet jack is a device that makes a pallet portable, and that’s all. You shouldn’t need bulging muscles in order to move a pallet around.
So, make sure your operators always push. By pulling a pallet, pressure is exerted on the back, and not the legs. Your back has a lot of jobs to do – such as keeping your skeleton together and keeping you upright. It is not designed for the heavy-duty task of pulling a heavy pallet truck around your warehouse.
The ‘power’ for moving pallets comes from the legs. Your thigh muscles and calf muscles are much larger than any of the muscles in your back, so it’s easy for your body to shift the load if you use your legs.
Also, you’re more likely to suffer injuries if you repeatedly over-use your back at work.
Here at Douglas Equipment we stock all types of products that are manufactured by Wesco aside from the CP3 Pallet Jack. These include:
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additional pallet jacks
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platform trucks, carts and dollies
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lift equipment
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hand trucks
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drum handling equipment
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dock and shipping equipment
If you are unsure about which particular type of equipment will serve you best, then we are more than happy to help. Just contact us and an experienced member of our customer service team will be on hand to answer any questions you might have. When it comes to pallet jacks or any other kind of material handling equipment, we’re always on hand to point you in the right direction!
Call Douglas Equipment today at 1-800-451-0030 or contact us via our online web form and we’ll reach back out to you as soon as possible.
