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As New York, New York City, Long Island, and our Metro Area get back to opening again, many companies are finding themselves with new staff, new forklift operators, warehouse workers, and new opportunities.  Some are downsizing and no longer using traditional Forklift Equipment such as sit-down forklifts, ride on forklifts, standup Hilo, order picker and reach forklifts, and others are experiencing growth but do not need to take on the investment expense of new lift truck equipment.  They are hiring people who are changing careers for varied reasons, and many are not familiar with warehouse equipment such as Forklifts, Lift Trucks, Hilo Equipment, and Electric Pallet Movers, and Manual Pallet Jacks (or Hydraulic Pump Pallet Jacks)

Manual Pallet Jacks are a great affordable tool for most warehouse operations, trucking, retail stores, grocery stores, Institutional facilities, and any other application where merchandise, boxes and skids need to be moved, or where a traditional Electric Pallet Jack or forklift is not available or needed.

Manual Pump Pallet Jacks have many benefits such as:

  • They do NOT require a forklift operator certification
  • They CAN be used by employees under 18
  • They are inexpensive in cost and maintenance compared to a forklift or electric pallet jack
  • They ease the physical burden of moving loads around by hand
  • They are very maneuverable in tight spaces
  • They lessen the utilization and wear and tear on other forklifts and lift trucks in the warehouse.

However, these Manual Pallet Movers also come with some notoriety such as:

  • There are more pallet jack accidents than forklift accidents annually
  • Pallet jacks rolling over or dropping on a foot or ankle are the top injury when using them
  • Trip Hazards when leaving them in the middle of an area and not parked to the side properly out of the way cause accidents especially in retail or public areas
  • Strain to the shoulders, neck, and back from using forceful movement to pull the pallet jack can result in serious injury
  • Pedestrian can be struck by jacks due to poor visibility when using the jack.
  • Accidents from horseplay and or improper operation are often serious
  • Improper use can cause unnecessary product loss and damage

Mark DeLeon of PMT Forklift Corp. notes how pallet jacks are a great way for companies to increase their warehouse efficiency, move things around on a jobsite, and basically just make life easier for operators at a low buy in cost.   He also noted that the physical ease pallet jacks give an operator rather than having to carry boxes and merchandise around helps cut down on injury and fatigue. 

This forklift dealership in New York City (NYC) and Long Island (L.I.) sells, fixes, and provides parts for hundreds of Manual Pallet Jacks a year for all brands, and has over 35 years of experience with them.  They have provided Hydraulic Pump Pallet Jacks all over Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, Westchester, Suffolk, Nassau, and Fire Island for large and small companies, government municipalities, charities, and mom and pop operations.  They pride themselves in not just being an online pallet jack catalog order company, but a complete Pallet Jack Repair and Sales Company source for both new and used pallet jacks, as well as Forklifts, Aerial Equipment and Warehouse Equipment.

As a leading Forklift Dealership for New York City and Long Island, PMT Forklift understands the needs for companies when it comes to Material Handling.  They also understand that there are many different applications for manual pallet trucks, which is why they carry a full line of different types and sizes such as:

  • 27 x 96 Long Pallet Jack trucks
  • 20.5 x 48 Narrow Pallet Jack
  • 20.5 x 36 Narrow and Short Pallet Jack
  • 27 x 36 Short Pallet Jack
  • 27 x 48 Standard Pallet Jack
  • Pallet Jacks Scales
  • Low Profile Pallet Jack
  • European Pallet Skid Jacks
  • Stainless steel Pallet Jack
  • Special Size Pallet Jacks

They also carry parts for pallet jacks like Load Wheels, Pallet Jack Handles, Bearings, Hydraulic Pump Jacks, and also service them for their customers both at their facility in Jamaica Queens or West Babylon, or by forklift road service in areas of Metro New York and Long Island such as Long Island City, Jamaica, Hunts Point, College Point, Astoria, Chinatown and Manhattan, Williamsburg, Hauppauge, Farmingdale, Ronkonkoma & Bohemia, Fire Island, Bethpage and Plainview, Inwood, JFK and LaGuardia, and all over. They provide equipment and training for all facets of industry, warehousing, hospitals and institutions, film, and entertainment, and even rent manual pallet jacks rentals.  

Unlike a forklift, Operators of Manual Pallet Jacks do not have to be certified but should be properly trained.   PMT Forklift not only offers Forklift Operator Training for powered industrial trucks, but also offers Manual Pallet Jack Training so that you know your training was done by a professional.  They offer the following tips on utilizing pallet jacks in your application that you can post or go over as training with your current and new employees. 

Contact PMT Forklift Corp. for your Manual Pallet Jack needs and training.  And when you are ready to move up to an electric pallet jack or electric pallet mover, they have those too.

As useful and efficient as Manual Pallet jacks are for operators, to reduce your risk of injury and product damage while using a pallet jack, follow these safety best practices:

Related Topics:

How to use a pallet jack

Manual Pallet Jack Safety

Manual Pallet Jack Training

Pallet Jack Parts

Pallet Jack Repairs

TIPS & GUIDELINES FOR SAFE MANUAL PALLET & HYDRAULIC PUMP JACK OPERATION.

  • Do not use a pallet jack unless you have been trained and authorized to do so
  • Wear proper clothing, shoes, and gloves when using a manual pallet jack
  • If you are using a jack for long periods, periodically stretch to maintain muscle looseness
  • Make sure the jack is in proper working condition prior to using
  • Be aware of your pallet Jacks Manual Hydraulic release around the hydraulic pump
  • Maintain your jack and keep it lubricated as well as hydraulic fluids to proper levels
  • Don’t let debris such as shrink wrap get tangled up in the wheels or handle
  • Be aware of the surface you are using the Pallet jack on.  Check for spills, loose debris, bumps, and uneven areas.
  • Do not lift a load with one fork only.  You can bend or damage it and break the jack.
  • If your Pallet jack handle or forks are bent, cracked, or broken, have it replaced.  Bending and rewelding is not advisable
  • Never use a pallet jack to brace your feet, as a step stool, or put your foot under the jack
  • Always check your load stability to make sure it will not fall over or shift in transport
  • Never transport co-worker or other personnel on a Pallet Jack
  • Be aware of pedestrian traffic.  Obey company traffic rules
  • If your load is tall or your view obstructed, utilize a spotter
  • If going down a loading ramp, do not walk in front of the load.  Push, don’t pull
  • If you have clear sight visibility over the load, push the jack if possible
  • Never jerk at the load to start moving it.  Start pulling the load with an even force to not hurt your shoulder, back, or muscles
  • Use 2 hands to pump up the jack
  • Never walk backwards when transporting merchandise as you can trip and get run over.  Operate from the side.
  • If a load it too heavy, obtain assistance to push, or use a traditional forklift or electric pallet jack
  • Manual Pallet Jacks are not trailers.  Do not tie up to a forklift or other powered vehicle
  • Do not make too sharp a turn around a corner or too fast as the load can shift and topple over
  • Never position yourself between a moving load and a wall or edge of dock, especially in tight quarters
  • Don’t turn on an incline
  • If a load takes off on you, you do not have to be the hero to stop the runaway pallet jack or hold the load from falling.  No load is worth personal injury
  • Do not blindly stick your hand around pinch points, pivot points, and between the load and handle or reach under a pallet jack with raised forks empty or loaded.
  • Know your Pallet Jack Load Capacity.  Overloading may cause the Pallet Jack Pump to Fail
  • Do not use broken pallets that can get caught in the wheels.
  • When parking or storing your Manual Pump Jack, keep it away from aisles and walkways where it can be come a tripping hazard.  
  • Do not park it on an incline. 
  • Always have forks lowered when parking, and make sure jack is at a complete rested stop before leaving unattended
  • Do not block emergency exits or fire extinguisher and emergency kit access.
  • If transporting it, make sure you secure it.
  • LASTLY, Pallet jacks are not toys.  Refrain from reenacting stunts and pallet jack tricks you see on YouTube and Tic-Toc