A pallet jack is an essential part of material handling. Not only will it make your job easier, it could keep you from injury if used properly. Always use caution and common sense when using a pallet jack for any material handling job.

Step 1
Always inspect the pallet jack for damage and proper operation before each use. A damaged pallet jack could not only cause personal injury, it could possibly damage the material if a break down occurs. When inspecting your pallet jack, pay close attention to the wheels, forks, handle and any moving parts to insure there is no visual damage. Take a moment to pump up the pallet jack and let it down a few times to insure proper operation.

Step 2
Before you use your pallet jack to move any material, always know the load limit of your pallet jack. Never try to lift more than the pallet jacks load limit or damage to the pallet jack or personal injury may occur.

Step 3
Carefully inspect the material that you will be handling before using the pallet jack. Make sure that the material is correctly placed on the pallet and the weight is centered and evenly distributed. Depending on what type of material you will be handling, make sure the material is secure on the pallet and that no shifting will occur when you begin to lift up or move the material. Metal bands or shrink wrap are just a couple of options used to secure your material on the pallet.

Step 4
After all 3 steps above have been completed, you can insert the pallet jack forks into the pallet and under the material you will be moving. When inserting the forks under the material and into the pallet, make sure you center the forks under the load and in the middle of the pallet. This is very important because the load could possible shift if the forks are inserted off center, causing the material to fall off the pallet and causing damage to the material or personal injury.

Step 5
Turning the release handle off, start pumping the pallet jack handle to slow raise the material, always keeping an eye on the load to insure no shifting or leaning is occurring. Raise the material to the desired height keeping in mind that the higher the load is raised, the more unstable it could become.

Step 6
When you begin to roll or move the material you have lifted with your pallet jack, keep in mind that you can either push or pull the material. If the material on the pallet obstructs your view, make sure to pull the pallet jack instead of pushing it so you can have an open view of the area ahead of you.

Step 7
Place the pallet with the material in the desired location making sure that there are no obstructions that could be under the pallet before you lower it. Using the release handle, slowly lower the pallet in place and remove the pallet jack forks from under the pallet.

Using the steps above, you should be able to safely use a pallet jack and properly move material on a pallet.