When dealing with certain types of deliveries, you should make every effort to minimize the amount of torso bend that you have to endure. For instance, when handling large quantity loads, ask your employer to give you a four-wheeled platform-style cart or a two-wheeled hand truck that can change over to a four-wheel platform-style truck. Also, you should inquire about changing the present hand truck or ask if you can be given a new one that has the ability to adjust the height of the load platform or toe plate. If your employer doesn’t make these changes and you are injured, a New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney may be able to help you get benefits.
Additionally, when pushing items up an incline, you may want to consider asking your employer for a fold-down third wheel that can be placed on the back of the hand truck so that the load can be self supporting (as opposed to you having to bear the brunt of the weight). Utilizing the third wheel will ensure that you will only have to provide force in a horizontal direction.
You should note that poorly maintained hand trucks will significantly increase one’s physical stress. That said, you may want to suggest to your employer that you and the other employees be given the option to use a hand truck with hard wheels or balloon tires, either of which may be more beneficial, depending on the type of terrain you have to transport items over.
If you need a skilled New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer, please call Dan Matrafajlo at (908) 248-4404 for a free consultation.