Pushing and pulling are also manual handling (article 2). The riskiest moments are starting off and keeping up the force along the way.
How much force (INSST guide, ISO/TR 12295)
| People | Initial force | Sustained force |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 240 N | 150 N |
| Men | 360 N | 250 N |
These values must never be exceeded (100 N is roughly the force needed to hold 10 kg).
How to push better
- With your hands between knuckle and shoulder height: lower or higher, the force is applied badly.
- With your feet firmly planted on a solid, level floor.
- Pushing is better than pulling, with wheels in good condition and the trolley not overloaded.
In practiceA loaded manual pallet truck is very hard to start on a ramp. If you have to push it
like that every morning, report it: the answer may be an electric pallet truck or a different route.
Source: Real Decreto 487/1997, sobre manipulación manual de cargas (manual handling of loads; consolidated text, in Spanish), article 2 · INSST, Guía técnica de manipulación manual de cargas (technical guide, 2024 edition, in Spanish), comments on article 2 and on the annex, point 1, table 3